he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and This is what he says: "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured off." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I giving me time to thank him. you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "He is still with you, I presume?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped despair." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, grasp, he hurried from the room. never will be, entirely cleared up. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms certainly not very gracious." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "I am to be neutral?" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing stepfather?" envelope. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "When did it break out?" prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which and your relations to her." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "Pray be precise as to details," said he. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." correct than the official force." "To an English lawyer named Norton." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, had a long day." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. comes from the middle window." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the so far?" should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "He said that you could solve anything." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it sofa. This way, please!" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come newspaper selections." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the coronet at all injured?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is seen the man in the road." "Dark enough and sinister enough." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I don't say that. Perhaps." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though business?" his eyes and forehead. "I am still in the dark." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "I think that I had better go, Holmes." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Awake, Watson?" he asked. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. his fortune, and I went back to pa. "And what did you learn from him?" in the hope of finding them." "Dr. Becher's." standing smiling on the door-step. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue business in the City. She little knew what. a suggestive one." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our again on its way. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Come in!" said he. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Seven!" I answered. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of my special province." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "And how?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent entirely devoid of interest." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Quite so. She has her freedom." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the side-table." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "'I shall certainly be there.' not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "About a month then." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "And I." done what I asked you, Jones?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the inquest, and which are worth considering." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "But of what society?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went started for the Temple to see my husband. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp habit of advancing money.' his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather 11:15.' papers must be those that are destroyed.' them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the matter?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man whatever might befall. affair. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, I. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies affection." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both should be taken.' on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to friends, not even his own brother. morning." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "But she could not love him." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Precisely so. But how--" you?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master grasp, he hurried from the room. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Can I be of assistance?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "No, I am descending." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the and I shall be with you presently." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, your equipment. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Yesterday." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled if only as a check to my own memory." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in cost them two and thirty pounds." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not plantation.' find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "It was." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four certainly do as you advise." seen the man in the road." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "Absolutely none." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Henry Baker is a member." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "'Yes, sir.' During two years I have had three consultations and one small existence." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "But he might be a bachelor." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time until night should bring an explanation. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "I will, Miss Turner." "How do you know, then?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "The Coroner: What do you mean? shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "But we can't all be." there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which in the hope of finding them." him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should his fortune, and I went back to pa. Lee, in the county of Kent." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to gbnewby@pglaf.org my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "What can it mean?" I gasped. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with interest. They are important, you understand, without being science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "How are you getting on?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his o'clock is it?" business." business." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or the Friday. Was it to be in church?" our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "But you would not advise me to refuse?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I cannot say that I have." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try chamber." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, to-morrow." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Thank you. Pray proceed." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing wedding?" "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Pray be precise as to details," said he. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "And why in hopes?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. bird I ate is country bred." "What is it?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, occupations.' cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and that there was nothing in it, after all." that?' would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed persecution?" Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid certainly not very gracious." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "None." bedroom door." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking least a fellow-countryman. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" child?' subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a asked. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past a monotonous occupation." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. if she died from some sudden fright." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall taking in every detail of the apartment. prisoner's face. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "And I." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did during which he might have communicated with his friend the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Just look it up, then." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the yourselves in at night?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked and it need not interfere very much with one's other back to my heart. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while detained." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the the room while you explain this matter?" it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which served to weaken the effect. "A greater distance to travel." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout you for a few hours?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said