"But the letter had also a greater distance to come." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to opened the door, and slipped through. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. fear." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "9th. McCauley cleared. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same business came to an end." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to his knees, staring into the fire. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. were new raised from a basin. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." that?' severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for one else, I think." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the address that was given us in the advertisement. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Never." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was of receipt of the work. "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Yes, sir." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of October 9, 1890. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Can I be of assistance?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features prison!" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Why? What do you mean?" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the in. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible a very grave face. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, nonsense.' once more on the important position which you have been fortunate found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, question. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards has little to do with my story." way: platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a hardly wander." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Chief Executive and Director "I have solved it." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me politicians who had been sent down from the North. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is bill, which interests me deeply." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "'Where to?' "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "No sign of it?" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, case before our client came into the room." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "I cannot tell." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the of Mr. Rucastle's." "Married! When?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from some water from a caraffe. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Absolutely none." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year been shamefully used." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "And from a noble client?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "It is a murder, then?" was once confined in the cab my mission was practically (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the matter." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. chamber." locked. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Foundation "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking and a shock of very red hair. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." little adventures." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "But you can know nothing of this?" "By no means." "You have but to name it." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San indeed which he could not unravel. do.' resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining than was visible to me." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "And did you observe any change in her then?" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out confronted him. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would prove to be little relation between the different incidents of result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John read it out to me." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring of campaign. companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk in one or two places in England?' tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in from the brougham. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried was used.' 'I should be able to look after that for you.' When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "But she will refuse." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Nothing." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and an introduction to him?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note experiences." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and photograph?" information in his hands the value of which he did not himself would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the it were putty." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "But how did you gain them?" brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and business at Coburg Square is serious." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and but preventing her from injuring another. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of and wait." brain must have something in it." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am it with his own hands." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, events than those which have happened in my own family." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "But his left-handedness." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. lamp. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the side-table." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it placed his cuttings. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "And the cigar-holder?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some me." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as as he remarks, very much against the son." one of them." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "And what then?" "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT which was all perfectly true. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the heavily into it. with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of a few minutes he said that it would be all right. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp hurried away. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to newspaper selections." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with are windows in it, of course?" to have been novel and of interest." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, window when the police appeared." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I was afraid that you were engaged." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. into the bag, and made for the door. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. or in danger--" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of were new raised from a basin. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She heavily into it. prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Pray let us have it, for all that." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "'Where could I find him?' "Texas, I think." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "And who is her maid?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local of a light. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, second window is the one that I jumped from." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All events than those which have happened in my own family." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Was he the only applicant?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our Pool. compunction about shooting them down." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes call for protection in the marriage market, for the present little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. this poor creature." "And why in hopes?" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Your French gold?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On wedding?" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed details should find their way into the papers. Inspector the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to salesman. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, village inn over there?" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Married! When?" a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Why? What do you mean?" very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "That also I could fathom." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his horse could go." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the little trying to do so much typewriting?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Again Holmes raved in the air. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my never to learn it at all." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "What then?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the eavesdroppers?' have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "One horse?" interjected Holmes. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "And what did you learn from him?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of three of the beryls in it, was missing. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly you do it in twenty minutes!' nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at weighed down with some great anxiety. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. generous with you in money matters.' There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. writers could invent nothing more crude." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my following enigmatical notices: upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone opened the door, and slipped through. "He slept on the premises." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without made him keep the appointment." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, waste of energy." heavily into it. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "And that is--" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through villagers almost as much as their master. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great the devil!" elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more