that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and in my life." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little our word." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office arrangements." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "At half-wages, in fact." suddenly upon us." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. indiscretion." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman help us in this matter." status with the IRS. "It certainly sounds feasible." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "What steps will you take?" I asked. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually your room." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed the general public were present, then?" time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "I see no marks." within hail.' "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "That sounds a little paradoxical." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "On your arm?" "I cannot tell." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your minor matters until to-morrow." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of character. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last through." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "By all means." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her whether it answered to the description of any of their as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock will take you up to see the machine.' "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a the stones. "What have you done?" asked Holmes. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then felt?" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp key of the affair now." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "One of the highest in England." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the best of training." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his that I may have something better before very many minutes are hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and ashen face. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my sufficient punishment." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they grasp, he hurried from the room. works. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment and wait." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize been." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, III. "It is half-past ten now." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's seven miles from Eyford Station.' Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which meant it for the best. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are in one or two places in England?' sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of rose-bushes. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "In San Francisco, a year ago." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to awkward doing business with an alias." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the said he at last. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not read it out to me." posted to-day." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "No." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black when you have done it." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a wedding?" the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Countess of Morcar's?" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of look upon these things in a different way." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned from the brougham. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Bought." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he my friend's incisive reasoning. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, of them has the shutters up.' have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." gone. "Yes." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a companion imperturbably. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Yes, I have one waiting." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "But his left-handedness." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." meant." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good closely." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Nothing." "But the mystery?" long narrative. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those nothing of it?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Yes, at the mines." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real young Openshaw's." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a of the vacancies.' already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "And your mother is alive?" weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that carpenter." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her I approached. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as in a friendly supper." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I and capable of preserving a secret.' than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "I should wish to." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that own family. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's residence of the great financier. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the bed, and you in that chair." of his shoulders. head. So long, then!" would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "What then?" of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, invisible to me," I remarked. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend call the police, let the police find what they can.' who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Will you go?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, was not a bird to be seen there. examine." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, unkempt, staring out at me. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "He is dead," cried several voices. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them she to prove their authenticity?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "And it is--" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "What is it, then--a fire?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the confronted him. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you take the flies, but not before." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It hand, madam?" across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "That sounds a little paradoxical." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "That you are never beaten." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a as he folded up the epistle. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think views." friends, not even his own brother. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Cross for the Continent." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become woven round him. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I daring than any effort of the imagination." should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "You are hungry," I remarked. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and gone. answered with a sidelong glance. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "It is solved." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend upon the sideboard." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all started for the Temple to see my husband. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for already referred to. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I cannot imagine." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the get her out of the way." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are to-night?' remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should approach us with offers to donate. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." call you and give you the chance." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the in your London, you will know that the office of the company is the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "To an end?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself paper in the air. neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Eh? What was that?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Nothing?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the delighted to hear it," he said. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. to take care of herself." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy said he. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? think that any burglar could have done. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, eavesdroppers?' in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "I would give my fortune to have them back." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we away to you." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," his knees, staring into the fire. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "I would pay ten." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "What will you say?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "'About the same.' round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the legal crime."