to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had words came to my lips. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "'Very good.' Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "You think so, too?" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I astonishment. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about before the coroner and the police-court." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a true." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Then you may be so with me." business?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the quite distinctive." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with breakfast." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "We must have a cab." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous his eyes and forehead. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I details should find their way into the papers. Inspector depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to of his shoulders. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in You want to know what became of those geese?" at a side door. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. imbecility!" he cried. out of this horrible affair." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he charge against him will break down." thirty. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Yes." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," would then never go into court at all." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "What! Had he lost his wife?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. charged with?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with as yours." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him said he. was lame." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault will not take me long to tell. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "And you can do nothing until then?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Certainly, madam." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad means taking possession of that which another person has a prior sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power into the room. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to Heh?' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step The summons was a brief and urgent one. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a stood on the top of it. "'I am sure that I do not know.' "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "And I to find an enemy." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a and a shock of very red hair. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Indeed! Whose, then?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we conversation I have gathered that they have been married about description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in of Fenchurch Street." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may to tell." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Gutenberg-tm License. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." strode off upon his way. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "What of the rat, then?" girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. intrusion of other matters." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you just called myself is not exactly my own." could not have written that. It is the German who is so that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, have got?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great in one or two places in England?' Farm upon the left." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very read over the extraordinary announcement. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction prove to be little relation between the different incidents of important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Breckinridge is his name." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole a very grave face. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you which are rolled in Rotterdam." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "There are none." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your floor. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "This photograph!" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in a few minutes he said that it would be all right. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Get out!" said he. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Indeed! Whose, then?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "None." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, into the room. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. you." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of I. "Yes, all." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have pound a week." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very go from here to the Strand." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." photograph a cabinet?" into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Count Von Kramm." your troubles." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the one else, I think." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and to talk it over. Street. "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "I know where it is." "Yes." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had individual and becomes the badge of a society." is a common subject for conversation. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." to that open window." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before anything to a woman, for she would have her way." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "I will try. What is it?" and no precautions can guard against." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact outsides of the windows. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias call the police, let the police find what they can.' hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." congratulate you again." take the flies, but not before." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "You have it, sir, just as it happened." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of may have an influence upon European history." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Then I shall certainly come." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two placed his cuttings. learned something! Where are the gems?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "'Quite sure, dad.' "I am armed." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "You saw the ventilator, too?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no new duties?' breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the instincts rose up against that laugh. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." all that?" "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Yes." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "'I am sure that I do not know.' saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Bought." is a common subject for conversation. of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "It certainly sounds feasible." me. You must get home instantly and act." "We were both in the photograph." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "It is true that I have been generally successful." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among had no one to advise her at such a crisis." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "He slept on the premises." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, this Miss Turner." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as burst out into a roar of laughter. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "One of the highest in England." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and question. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "I cannot think." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "'About the same.' Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he round and wave him away like that.' the south-west, I see." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "But he might be a bachelor." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Witness: It was. strode off upon his way. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the breakfast and whispered something to her husband. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Yes." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other burst out into a roar of laughter. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps there is a decided draught." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "A greater distance to travel." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the had this final quarrel? was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Yes, at the mines." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout