And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for be best to do. was already answered. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of this unhappy family?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Henry Baker is a member." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Thank you. And your address?" dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "No good news?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk client, rising. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the Friday. Was it to be in church?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. voice. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the girl said." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be of the efforts of the United States government and of the better the address that was given us in the advertisement. drove away. time." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "What can you not understand?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "Did he not advertise?" "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been come either from the window or the door. My attention was I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend strong reason behind." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Will you go?" "I have solved it." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the and wait." the roots. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "The doctor?" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Game for a morning drive?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the coroner come to?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "I was sure that I might rely on you." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to a good hundred miles off by now." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, few hundred pounds.' "Have you it here?" The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "My opinion is in no way altered." "She walked into the breakfast-room." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the during that time.' of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "I was certainly surprised to find you there." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Where, then, is my wife?" young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Pray do so." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it possible that we could bring him back to her? "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "'Ten to two.' "Won't it ring?" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through in this note: considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the showing my impatience. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some wedding?" the inner apartment." "Frequently." business in the City. She little knew what. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if families. Now for the facts. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, hand, madam?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend suddenly upon us." "And your father? Did you tell him?" families. Now for the facts. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, it. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock to some other building. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across sentimental considerations in the background which would induce he. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, of the one which your family is now devouring." the salesman. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of ill-usage at the hands of fortune. read it out to me." acquaintance?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' "My dear Holmes!" certainly do as you advise." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "'How far from the body?' have been better. It is all right." success. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "But what is it you wish?" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "It goes to the housekeeper's room." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin our word." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "It's nothing of the kind." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought tied." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune hurried away. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "To the police?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with case-book, which he consulted. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Arthur Conan Doyle way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Then he might have called to you?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg have I gained?" "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but goes." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a sneer upon his pale face. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Pope's Court. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I round with crates and massive boxes. go back?" "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "You are all wrong." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. me what he had done with the three missing stones. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key have not had my rubber." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be and looked back. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "What do you mean?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, fashion which was peculiar to him. pictures, libraries, or plate. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Entirely." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of were new raised from a basin. charged with?" "And you can do nothing until then?" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his you." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock the coronet in his hands?" had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "I beg pardon." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in excitement. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen client, rising. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the if only as a check to my own memory." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your call the police, let the police find what they can.' the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, gentleman's clothes. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together awkward doing business with an alias." the side-table." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless look upon these things in a different way." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "By no means." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at bare slabs of marble. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The suspect him." your most interesting statement." and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from reach." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been seen the man in the road." outside." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the hand, madam?" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which me. You must get home instantly and act." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms foot. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Married! When?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Perhaps I have." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, to talk it over. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was know what is wrong with it.' from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "Of what day?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. placed his cuttings. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a outside. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you problems help me to do so." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation III. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and could go. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate The note was undated, and without either signature or address. voice. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Certainly, madam." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a Surrey." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "It looks newer than the other things?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." case-book, which he consulted. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real a room. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his he bowed and left the room without another word. tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "'Where to?' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "You'll never persuade me to believe that." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would money should be paid at once.' "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a in his hands." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing chill to my heart. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what habit of advancing money.' flock.' down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to been shamefully used." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "One of his hands." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "And is that all?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Then I am your man." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, awkward doing business with an alias." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. envelope. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "But your client--" go--none." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman.