in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Is he quiet?" The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high questioning and rather startled gaze. jewels which you have stolen?' anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the iron safe, which he closed upon it. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His one or two very singular points about this room. For example, research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do what is your own theory as to what took place?" that he will be back before evening." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, forecastle of an emigrant ship. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." should be so warm over such a trifle." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Holmes." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it For additional contact information: "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one where Mr. Fordham shows you.' I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and father's place of business?" "Why did you pick him?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let unkempt, staring out at me. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." question. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, said he at last. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A could go. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Yes, from Horsham." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Then I am your man." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to James Windibank. Voilà tout!" money should be paid at once.' Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel one of them." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. an introduction to him?" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be might help us?" "Yes." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Yes, only one." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Your French gold?" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "You horrify me." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "An enemy?" Stoke Moran." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, there is a decided draught." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "But of what society?" compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may there when the Rucastles went away." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is get the tickets." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "'A dozen yards or so.' lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "And for present expenses?" as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of upon the white wrist. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose dates and names. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, must compliment you." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an and looked back. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their not within a twentieth part of the market price." "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "What shall I do?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Get out!" said he. wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never this poor creature." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Then I can wait in the next room." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "But how could you guess what the motive was?" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Precisely so. But how--" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "That is also quite modern," said the lady. charge against him will break down." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Texas, I think." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn the King without delay." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil brain must have something in it." not, dad?" she asked. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "How about poison?" "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent distinguish the words: had died away into the silence from which it rose. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Perhaps I have." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Who was the criminal, then?" and looked back. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got congratulate you again." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "That also I could fathom." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his suspect him." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered do you make of it all?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. used to be." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the remarked. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." take the flies, but not before." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will sound at heart." was a perfect sample of the class. him, that man would not have given me such complete information "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "No, but the enclosure is." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential It was close upon four before the door opened, and a the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he to that open window." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an amused." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable that you wished to speak to me?' window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." notes," he said. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of man. I know him from the photograph." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. has little to do with my story." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "You have the photograph?" "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the ways of our fellow-men." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Where, indeed?" of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "'How far from the body?' "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they night.' said he. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The are windows in it, of course?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and bed dies. Does not that strike you?" to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Entirely." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "I answered that I had not. "You have compromised yourself seriously." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his three fields round his house, and there he would take his He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Ah, but I was recommended to you." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to and a shock of very red hair. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank companion. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "To an end?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at shoulder. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a stood on the top of it. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, at my remark. Leadenhall Street--and--" approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to that he will be back before evening." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "But his lameness?" week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week forebodings. would then never go into court at all." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "What can it mean?" I gasped. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." did not hear it also.' but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' I. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" Holmes' face clouded over. unkempt, staring out at me. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'Stolen!' he cried. "Certainly." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in conceal it?" metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be window when the police appeared." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "'Entirely.' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming persecution?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have all?" arrangements." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" arrangements." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "And how did you find out?" my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, papers on the sundial.'" used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in to miss it." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "'Oh, no.' constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "No?" at once, for I have only half an hour." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "You are certainly joking, Holmes." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Dirty?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. held up the lantern and gazed about him. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of use an arc-and-compass breastpin." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "I say it is." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "None." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut easy-going way." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my himself. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was you." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "And help." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "How on earth--" they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was things are very often connected not with the larger but with the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the