"'Yes, sir.' Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm present strange and interesting features that it is no easy said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This himself. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "But I have heard all that you have heard." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Again Holmes raved in the air. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such recall any case within my experience which looked at the first can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if point in the dark hollow of his hand. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "I assure you that I am in your hands." machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "Pray continue your narrative." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "No." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the read over the extraordinary announcement. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door your bag." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning which was all perfectly true. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "That is also quite modern," said the lady. you came in." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, to miss it." read over the extraordinary announcement. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Yes." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I little adventures." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor the ceiling. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, infinite languor in his face. "Very truly yours, "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked success. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to despair." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. other means.' know what is wrong with it.' said he at last. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson yourselves in at night?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. weapon." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday little adventures." have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Do you receive much company?" he asked. kindly on the shoulder. round with crates and massive boxes. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to off." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even beg that you will break it off." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' a very grave face. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "None. Neville wrote those words." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "The Cedars?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for cup of tea. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. is a common subject for conversation. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to felt the room to be a little close.' "One of the highest in England." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I garden below. "What! Had he lost his wife?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "And leave your case unfinished?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "I guessed as much." he bowed and left the room without another word. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "And your mother is alive?" stepfather?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the coroner come to?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his shaken than I had ever seen him. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly both be extremely obliged.' better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you have accepted such a situation. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate once more. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried writer." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "And now?" I asked. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' do." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a nothing of it?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard done what I asked you, Jones?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or third from London." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "I cannot say that I have." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the little opening for the ventilator is." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has a monotonous occupation." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "A confidential servant?" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took this unhappy family?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through a monotonous occupation." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I fear not." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "At the wedding breakfast." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just married her." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "I see no marks." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "'Where to?' "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "He is still with you, I presume?" instincts rose up against that laugh. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "And sit in the dark?" I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" it." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in overpowering excitement and concern. "So I heard. You have him here?" as he folded up the epistle. "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a she might be summoned. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and which I could not give. He asked for Alice. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was brought there to personate someone, and the real person is hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. tell him that I know him to be innocent." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, without a word or a look. me have 200 pounds?' which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "And help." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "'Yes, I promise.' safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" meant it for the best. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "In which, sir?" were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "It is possible." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there to-night?" I asked. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" fish-monger and a tide-waiter." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the one as in the other." "They are typewritten," I remarked. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Where to?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, Gutenberg-tm License. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Thank you. Pray proceed." "To an English lawyer named Norton." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew instituted." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent very morning of my second wedding." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "So I am. Very much so." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "You horrify me!" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Perhaps I have." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His not personally threatened." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden the bottom.' you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Pope's Court. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into charged with?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Did you become engaged then?" "'What, the red-headed man?' peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers little adventures." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is front of the hall door has given its name to the place. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most which was all perfectly true. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "I see many objections to any such theory." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet people don't know." miles off. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand other lovers by making love himself." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "An accident, I presume?" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came wedding?" swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of ways including including checks, online payments and credit card feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that and that he would see to anything that turned up. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the during which he might have communicated with his friend the had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "He is still with you, I presume?" said he at last. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. ordinary clothes on?" three fields round his house, and there he would take his unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Was your sister dressed?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "To ruin me." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly a monotonous occupation." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. that he will be back before evening." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul obstinate." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid