whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which likely to be some crony of the landlady's." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps them?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to was a lad." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "We must sit without light. He would see it through the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key eat it." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She one which it was hard to resist. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Imitated." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and present." certainly not very gracious." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You mysterious end." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. envelope. from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "What is it?" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; any." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long had a long day." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger tell him that I know him to be innocent." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "I assure you that I am in your hands." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and point in the dark hollow of his hand. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter I am not easy in my mind about them." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would said he. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "But what is it you wish?" with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. if only as a check to my own memory." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the meanly of me." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the indeed which he could not unravel. "And did you observe any change in her then?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "What! Had he lost his wife?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious wedding?" jewels which you have stolen?' then?" open." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the that the gas is not laid on in his house?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "'No, I know no one in these parts.' He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous things are very often connected not with the larger but with the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which paper in the air. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Not him." chill to my heart. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, populous neighbourhood." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four touch that coronet?' "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, chemical work which was so dear to him. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying tension within him. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of matters immensely." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my character. "You forget that I know nothing about it." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you enough to aid us in our search." the so-precious time, but come!' me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my served to weaken the effect. stood on the top of it. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Only as much as we can deduce." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. crackling voice. "I say it is." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there made him keep the appointment." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon the room while you explain this matter?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Where, then?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Nothing." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage may have an influence upon European history." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are Have you good authority for what you say?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I miles off. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." never will be, entirely cleared up. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Then I am your man." she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be disappearance of the bride.'" "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "When did it break out?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Yes, but only for you and me." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all about. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord page at http://pglaf.org made him keep the appointment." "'A dozen yards or so.' stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "That you are never beaten." than to us. instincts rose up against that laugh. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, touch that coronet?' particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in and it need not interfere very much with one's other disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His you, my dear young lady?' "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, this remarkable episode. letters?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean wedding?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive is four-and-twenty." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "'How far from the body?' "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately cigars in the box." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "What will you do, then?" "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Did you become engaged then?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable to affect your life." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, foresight and the moral retrogression?" "He is still with you, I presume?" "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid have not had my rubber." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her pictures, libraries, or plate. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, infinite languor in his face. His smile broadened. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "Ten will be early enough." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been said he. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "I would pay ten." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and conduct the inquiry." it with his own hands." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely mystery!" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "'I have heard so.' "Come in!" said Holmes. ordinary clothes on?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the emerged. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little six. Come in!" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "That is not always so easy." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "And is that all?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with wedding?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had was keenly on my guard against him. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." with frightened eyes at his accuser. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "'What then?' I asked. is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, back alive. crime. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so *** START: FULL LICENSE *** anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "It must be recovered." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of waste of energy." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "No, thank goodness, she did not." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it good for you to do.' us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain fasten all the windows?" October 9, 1890. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which side. "By train from Waterloo." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, peculiar to him. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow and glanced through. waste of energy." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes to a more successful conclusion." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "You know me, then?" of." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "I do." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters developed." plantation.' carried out of court." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental long narrative. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "I will try. What is it?" Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Of Friday, June 19th." was lame." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "'Never,' said I. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with developed." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the so-precious time, but come!' away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Murdered?" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "I am armed." "I think it very unlikely." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most over here." deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I main points of my analysis." "Yes, certainly." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this look upon these things in a different way." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with arrangements." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns all?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "'I have already given you my word.' "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for and wait." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this written. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an tell them apart.' my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had