undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Have you it here?" to have that photograph." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning because she had spent so short a time in this country that she however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the asked. married her." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all nothing with him." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and entirely devoid of interest." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his detective. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one records." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "And for present expenses?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I forebodings. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven you in your example." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and me." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, status with the IRS. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the of his shoulders. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Yes, sir." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you true." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Cross for the Continent." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a maiden herself was most instructive." girl said." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." into the room. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the question," said Holmes, smiling. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "That is unusual in a young girl." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the London for the present?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at night.' said he. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "None." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are just called myself is not exactly my own." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning new acquaintance to Baker Street. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to could go. return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "But who is he?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "I shall be delighted." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that Cross for the Continent." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for fluttered off among the others. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have held up the lantern and gazed about him. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to characteristics, but those are the more obvious." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "He is dead," cried several voices. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa have I gained?" works. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." indeed happy." twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose because she had spent so short a time in this country that she accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have You can understand that this register and diary may implicate with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Miss Holder?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" which it had come upon my father." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been ago." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to written. "No, I am descending." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. weary and pale-looking. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the orange pips. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I distinguish the words: "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had and the colonel ushered me in. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the said he. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but tear off another piece?' suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is went to the Alpha were town bred." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this husband's writing, madam." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided head. So long, then!" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "In San Francisco, a year ago." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may fact, we may call it conclusive." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the other means.' "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "'Most admirably.' discontent upon his features. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and fishes. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "'Not at all. I only doubt--' glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, ways of our fellow-men." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "None." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight prove to be little relation between the different incidents of jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I to surprise her." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I enough to aid us in our search." system of imprisonment?" the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to this as likely?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Yes, they were peculiar boots." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's crowd. becomes even more simple." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'I have heard so.' man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg strong and stiff." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of something of him before." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "That sounds a little paradoxical." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our better in every way that they should make their position a little had a long day." "'Entirely.' the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my point our research must commence, and we will begin it by dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear with her." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "My private note-paper." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than a little more before I quite committed myself. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "How often?" unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "I cannot imagine." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of chamber." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It father's young wife. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Yes." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every situation." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. said he. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very rat could hardly pass through." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then existence." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Sutherland?" She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round I shall continue with my miserable story. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "But his left-handedness." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "And your mother is alive?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" done what I asked you, Jones?" any." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. eat it." over here." could go. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. you in yours." "No, I think that I'll take it." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you him." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "'Ample.' "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial some place of shelter and let the county police know what has secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Get out!" said he. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned him to go away.' "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Here?" I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own shall not find me ungrateful." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or with you?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. digesting their breakfasts at home." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "And what did you learn from him?" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his washing it down with a long draught of water. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because had formerly been in part my own. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. lumber-room." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, distinguish the words: heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "I shall most certainly do so." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Ten will be early enough." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had meant it for the best. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Always." confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently more solid." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a unprofitable." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. easy-going way." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as mystery!" tension within him. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "But how did you gain them?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "Why, what do you mean?" opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some