more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both tell them apart.' "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Stolen, then." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the did not hear it also.' advice." public press." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney I shall communicate with you." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving suggested at once that there must be a communication between the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "I should like to see him very much." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "But his lameness?" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith of it with the greatest attention. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and lips." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to man. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "One of his hands." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "And how did you find out?" without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it shadow pass over his face as I spoke. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of enter Dr. Roylott's room." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Precisely." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! what do you think they found in the pockets?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan a monotonous occupation." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly which our visitor detailed to us. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Were they all fastened this morning?" which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, towards the blaze. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes of them has the shutters up.' "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public Doctor, of the paper and the date." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not four million human beings all jostling each other within the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "But how will you look?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Eyford at 11:15.' and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Yes, he did." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." fact, we may call it conclusive." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Witness: I must still refuse. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." words came to my lips. foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon of receipt of the work. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said which should have the effect of calling the attention of the know all about it," he snarled. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" here." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Eyford at 11:15.' other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an forehead. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real mystery may be cleared along those lines." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is absolutely follow my advice in every respect." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "I am in hopes that she does." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over outside." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and gbnewby@pglaf.org stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate salesman. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in some city in a dream. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should my little problems." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I purpose equally well?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "In the cells." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the coronet in his hands?" "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "One of the highest in England." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord you for a few hours?" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "It is possible." I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Just look it up, then." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "And you can do nothing until then?" access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "But how did you gain them?" hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. DAMAGE. the Red-headed League." in a very precise fashion." as this. Pray let me have the details." with her." nonsense.' initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was true." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Why, what do you mean?" "And now?" He raised his hand. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of is so. I know all about McCarthy." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. appeared upon the scene." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the could go. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like of a light. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Then the page we have seen--" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch returned to France?" in the port of London." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. as he folded up the epistle. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon lips." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my will be renamed. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "You will not go there first?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, and shall probably return to London by the evening train." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at Henry Baker is a member." hand, madam?" excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil Count Von Kramm." do you make of it all?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as strode off upon his way. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Then what has happened to him?" hurried away. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "By train from Waterloo." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Have you good authority for what you say?" "VIOLET HUNTER." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Not yet." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round man. I know him from the photograph." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Yes." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. compunction about shooting them down." the roots. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his was once confined in the cab my mission was practically minor matters until to-morrow." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Sholtos." Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "None." "A client, then?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after she has been waylaid. There has been no result." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before eat it." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her guilty parties." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to carpenter." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" matter over." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to get the tickets." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, pictures, libraries, or plate. Holmes rather sternly. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not unprecedented a position." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the know what is wrong with it.' see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Dr. Becher's." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards tell me that you intended to go into harness." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the meanly of me." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a figure." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that and your relations to her." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, where she found matters as described by the last witness. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, standing smiling on the door-step. "It certainly sounds feasible." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, been with you?" "Ah!" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out empty. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "'Certainly not. But why?' How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I unkempt, staring out at me. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the fatally injured? thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Will you bet, then?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Did your wife hear all this?" that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "You will not go there first?" burst out into a roar of laughter. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper bachelor.' "And your father? Did you tell him?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst