afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "'And the work?' tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall room. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Then I can wait in the next room." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty During two years I have had three consultations and one small sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "What! You do not mean bodies?" from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a kindly on the shoulder. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled records." better in every way that they should make their position a little This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, morning." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and my special province." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "What! You do not mean bodies?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Eh? What was that?" against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come she might be summoned. "What!" he roared. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened intimate personal affairs in this public manner." dear old homesteads?" minor matters until to-morrow." "He said too much." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Never." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the footfalls from the street. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, companion quietly. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "I should be immensely obliged to you." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. at a side door. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Yes." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "In San Francisco, a year ago." paper in the air. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, gbnewby@pglaf.org trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and father's place of business?" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her murdered man." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, come either from the window or the door. My attention was fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." nights." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "One?" "We were both in the photograph." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, read it out to me." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "Your French gold?" herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "What! a murderous attack?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. fear." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. and the church but not where the lady lived." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by weapon." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "'Where could I find him?' resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad other, as fresh and trim as possible. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from them, and came down just as you departed. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. whole matter to your consideration." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "I am about to be married." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock respectable self." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every security.' where she found matters as described by the last witness. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been an introduction to him?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I disappearance of these gems?" house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, and I shall be with you presently." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Certainly." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and used to be." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Pope's Court, Fleet Street." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "'Is purely nominal.' whereabouts. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he both be extremely obliged.' was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a problems help me to do so." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Whose house is it?" guilty parties." "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never look upon these things in a different way." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Your French gold?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the friend's singular character. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. you." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project was keenly on my guard against him. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Not yet." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with of the vacancies.' crackling voice. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "I see no marks." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "It is no ordinary one." signal between you and your father? a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the inquest, and which are worth considering." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "But how?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who ways including including checks, online payments and credit card had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into extraordinary contortions. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell I. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "I say it is." going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "On the contrary, this is the right side." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," congenial hunt. goes." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "What do you mean?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Not in a good cause." his knees, staring into the fire. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "'Quite sure, dad.' which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, stalked out of the room. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a one of the states of the Union." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this just ask you whether you had heard it.' through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and and shall probably return to London by the evening train." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no the stones. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid instituted." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Ha! you find it so?" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "She showed me, as I told you she would." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to fact, we may call it conclusive." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty became a certainty. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very and the church but not where the lady lived." down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Come in!" said Holmes. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. side. "What then?" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "What, then, did Peterson do?" "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Whose house is it?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. was keenly on my guard against him. "Why did you pick him?" you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Yes." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private system of imprisonment?" meanly of me." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping the very morning of the wedding." "No, thank goodness, she did not." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the went to the Alpha were town bred." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom tell me that you intended to go into harness." guilty one." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "Pray do so." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton breakfast?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their passage and a tap at the door. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I better in every way that they should make their position a little me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so again, where I was soon asleep. sooner or later she must fall a victim. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the to a light-house. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a have been better. It is all right." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's fact, we may call it conclusive." "That is possible." of." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of on in his house." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly events than those which have happened in my own family." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, them?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has flock.' daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott ways of our fellow-men." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the driver. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB their singular warning or token before them when starting upon the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs way in." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I say that I have solved it." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to already been minutely examined." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I was sure that I might rely on you." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored open." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I should be immensely obliged to you." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not one's self under obligations.' and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Ha! you find it so?" who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Yes, the wine-cellar." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' redistribution. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely which it had come upon my father." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have