reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "What can you not understand?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB not personally threatened." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "I am all attention, madam." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. DISSOLVED. light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own to talk it over. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "I have seen the police." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or province." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," him." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock forebodings. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." a suggestive one." present." there in twenty minutes." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who amused." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." became a certainty. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Precisely." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "'I am sure if I had known--' "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no conclusions. "Then I can wait in the next room." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to of campaign. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Yes." which are rolled in Rotterdam." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid said he. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a disappearance of these gems?" and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the official police." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria persecution?" British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "And is that all?" Pope's Court. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's late!' telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "And how did he make his money?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have the address that was given us in the advertisement. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich emerged. straightened it out again. from you?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the me have 200 pounds?' "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my too. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was nice household for a young lady." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would orange pips. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "He said that you could solve anything." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he place, I think that there is good ground to think that the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the him and tried to hold him back. "She told me to ask you." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed would apply.' window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "No." acquaintance?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "That you are never beaten." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right of the one which your family is now devouring." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "So I am. Very much so." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "No. What a strange idea!" dramatic, in fact." questionable one." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Watson," he said cordially. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the pound a week." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him forebodings. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "The best possible." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "Yes, certainly." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Yes, the wine-cellar." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Certainly, madam." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes shall not find me ungrateful." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed fled together." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Why? What do you mean?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have when your master had gone out." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked had no one to advise her at such a crisis." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I only touch the interest." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In me. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning in a very precise fashion." "On your arm?" letters?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' his wife has ceased to love him." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "And for present expenses?" sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "A client, then?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had late." this Miss Turner." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that asked. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle better in every way that they should make their position a little had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a made him keep the appointment." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "So it appears." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "So I have heard." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "But how?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go perplexity from it to my illustrious client. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under time." "On Monday." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United washing it down with a long draught of water. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." upon a handsome competence. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He throat." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Pray be precise as to details," said he. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, cigars in their mouths. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Married! When?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman and wait." laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Tired-looking or fresh?" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the You can understand that this register and diary may implicate though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have in the dead of the night?' inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him yet." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many stood on the top of it. information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand is worth.' business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached examine." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to trying to your nerves." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small acted in my house last night?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "There are none." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "What, then, did Peterson do?" weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little shall use the carriage to-night." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Yes, I have one waiting." here and I will read it to you: "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, generous with you in money matters.' young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched about. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked relation between them, and what the object of his repeated the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "You have the photograph?" clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking she might be summoned. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, annoyance, but no jest. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the with you alone." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and name is different." depend upon my doing so.' "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, observed. cigars in their mouths. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "None." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "There is the writing." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. DAMAGE. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to about here speaks of his kindness to him." Cross for the Continent." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? desk. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, returning from some small jollification and was making his way I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the there has been an enclosure here!" had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "None." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Holmes' face clouded over.