interest. They are important, you understand, without being Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "That also I could fathom." is a common subject for conversation. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the I nodded to show that I had heard. "'As governess?' fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the matter." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his how narrow had been my escape. man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. happened." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "One of the highest in England." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her matters immensely." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has second window is the one that I jumped from." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, about here speaks of his kindness to him." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "I came to find a friend." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step to that open window." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is jewels which you have stolen?' "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the experiences." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, is worth.' problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Ha! you find it so?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "Deserted you?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "'Certainly not. But why?' salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the His name is Francis Prosper." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "But she could not love him." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. returned to France?" at my remark. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "It surprised me." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before it. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "'Not at all. I only doubt--' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must that, and I came down." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his affair. the roots. there was no need for father to know." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "That you are never beaten." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which had no one to advise her at such a crisis." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, look dissatisfied." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about such person." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day the room while you explain this matter?" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this My friend smiled. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our derbies." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "To the police?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it there was no need for father to know." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good late!' Heh?' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "I cannot say that I have." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. affair. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I have solved it." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "No, finished." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "No, finished." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance hard-headed British jury." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "I fear not." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, particular state visit http://pglaf.org I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon I have it here in my museum." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who obstinate." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is The police have openly confessed that they can at present make that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "No?" "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting The telegram which we eventually received came late one night some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "May I see it?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my deduce something from that?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." not, dad?" she asked. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. very old mansion. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Then, as to money?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Did he not advertise?" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would in this note: "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, eat it." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such said Mr. Holder. one of the states of the Union." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to conduct the inquiry." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and away into the river." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Yes, it was twisted." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it strong and stiff." points to suicide?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "And on what day did he meet his death?" vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a deduce something from that?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man whatever might befall. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "No, I had a dozen." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Nothing?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Never to return." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk It may be so in this case, also." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall within hail.' significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this was once confined in the cab my mission was practically call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into could go. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all straightened it out again. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "How did you deduce the select?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his was not a bird to be seen there. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "What! You do not mean bodies?" call for it in person on Monday morning.' think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Very murderous indeed." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "Perfectly so." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at himself to tell his story. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Stolen, then." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to four million human beings all jostling each other within the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "My dear Holmes!" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I for the market.' two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Never to return." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What strength in the others." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very chance." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "Texas, I think." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Mrs. Toller serenely. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Holmes. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "You were travelling in the States?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in of Fenchurch Street." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here not, dad?" she asked. Clair, of Lee." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and thin, with a long, sharp nose?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a bed dies. Does not that strike you?" fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its might help us?" "It must be recovered." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and made him keep the appointment." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress advice." "'I am sure if I had known--' at my remark. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "'There is a drive, then?' from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "You have but to name it." "That is not always so easy." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with head. So long, then!" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Not particularly." side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "No, thank goodness, she did not." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of upon a handsome competence. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I just ask you whether you had heard it.' his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before events than those which have happened in my own family." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Miss Holder?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "What can it mean?" I gasped. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no laugh and put his lips to my ear. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of case before our client came into the room." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up envelope. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been was it brought him the coronet? "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from maid will bring up your coffee." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really ashen face. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "We must have a cab." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" direction." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "I see no marks." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are to a light-house. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "But not more so than I to find you." learned something! Where are the gems?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Pray tell us what has happened to you." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "I shall most certainly do so." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to copied or distributed: married her." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of and I shall be with you presently." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat beg that you will break it off." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who it." new acquaintance to Baker Street. "And Miss Sutherland?" labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham side. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me throat." client, rising. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole