see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from bird I ate is country bred." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "I cannot say that I have." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your said he. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Then he might have called to you?" exactly what you advise." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. garden below. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" room had already been engaged for us. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "'Entirely.' robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. it." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Was she in good spirits?" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock six. Come in!" was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a if only as a check to my own memory." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I once more to my work. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came appeared upon the scene." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, vault. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a some mystery and the punishment of some crime." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off was it brought him the coronet? States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without been." "And for present expenses?" I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Have you good authority for what you say?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Certainly, madam." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, straighten it?" knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? unprofitable." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her shall use the carriage to-night." do.' twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his there has been an enclosure here!" his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Only as much as we can deduce." "You saw the ventilator, too?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is weary and pale-looking. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all started for the Temple to see my husband. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my our word." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window trifles." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Proceed, then." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "No." "I see many objections to any such theory." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted instincts rose up against that laugh. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "Never." flock.' "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is trifles." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my hands. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number into her hand at the door and which lured her within their forecastle of an emigrant ship. "What then?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the started for the Temple to see my husband. I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB politicians who had been sent down from the North. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "I warn you that they are very incomplete." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, of the way of danger. smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you in his hands." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried should be so warm over such a trifle." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish is acting for the best. "The vanishing of the lady." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Then you may be so with me." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew from the brougham. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "That is unusual in a young girl." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." recover the gem." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Yes, there are nearly always some there." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom speckled band?" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and pressing in one house as in another. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked train from Paddington which would bring you there at about he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Entirely." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must man. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind been anything against him. He had for years been known as a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look points to suicide?" will be renamed. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Texas, I think." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "About a month then." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me man. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Again Holmes raved in the air. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Dr. Gregory B. Newby which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you go--none." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Who by?" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a yourselves in at night?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "She will not sell." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' opened a pocket-book and took out a note. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he furiously. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, and glanced through. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy present." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, dates and names. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "And your father? Did you tell him?" crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "But the mystery?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Here?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "My stepfather's business papers." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the This is what he says: when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was more terrible than the truth. to tell." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "And you thought he was pulled back?" in his power. case-book, which he consulted. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "His face fell immediately. "Of what day?" George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. all?" "I know where it is." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the enter Dr. Roylott's room." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "And when will you call?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" official police." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his tightly behind him. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." happened." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Entirely." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and horse could go." month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "What have you to say now?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to matter over." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "But she could not love him." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in this unhappy family?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. call you and give you the chance." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Have you good authority for what you say?" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "No, thank goodness, she did not." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "I think that it is very probable." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a know that the truth is known." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few less than 26s. 4d. "When did it break out?" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most and a shock of very red hair. Leadenhall Street--and--" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me less than 26s. 4d. "I am sure." such attractions and accomplishments?' Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Foundation the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There fishes. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Yes." any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who tension within him. case before our client came into the room." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Where is it, then?" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "And you don't know his address?" "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my have an American origin." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. disappearance of these gems?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting to-night." Farm upon the left." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a do.' questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' me." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. again before evening." man. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "What then?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account passage and a tap at the door. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a who was a member of your goose club." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his lost his Christmas dinner." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "He is still with you, I presume?" trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that existence." really the only notable feature about the thing." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant and all of them with the keenest interest. as the one I chose?' "You were travelling in the States?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Not him." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a