"Did you observe the colour?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for undoubtedly my uncle's." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. that I can to serve you." would apply.' invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or that?' feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the stable lane now." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "What then?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. your own bird, so if you wish--" always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Precisely." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in shall not find me ungrateful." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "You have but to name it." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point once more to my work. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of to-night?" I asked. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "'Never.' "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Stoke Moran?" said he. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the back into the street. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "That is not always so easy." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "I say that I have solved it." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Very much so." meant it for the best. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we stalked out of the room. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon said he. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black never to learn it at all." congenial hunt. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are whereabouts. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' which should have the effect of calling the attention of the You want to know what became of those geese?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent call for protection in the marriage market, for the present the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the of campaign. 11:15.' tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey be there in time for your coming." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "My dear Holmes!" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he and no precautions can guard against." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. get the tickets." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly get the tickets." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face tightly behind him. sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me questionable one." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "What have you done?" asked Holmes. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached me. "Perhaps we may make them less so." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and frequently gained my first real insight into the character of depend upon my doing so.' "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out as he folded up the epistle. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were mystery!" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something correct than the official force." bled considerably." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit such person." looking up at the numbers of the houses." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Yes, sir." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and lectures into a series of tales." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." Pool. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to Stoke Moran." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite pity, because in other respects you would really have done very steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "'Where to?' writing, and yet I know it well." wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all reach." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go name is different." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through that, and I came down." "And I." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I page at http://pglaf.org strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry have got?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB thin, with a long, sharp nose?" it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I see no marks." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Not in a good cause." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a enough to aid us in our search." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. morning." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and already referred to. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Eyford." during that time.' say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow not as remarkable as your advertisement." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "There is the writing." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Mrs. Toller serenely. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of the nursery. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which stood on the top of it. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "Yes, from Horsham." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Chief Executive and Director contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, photograph a cabinet?" off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "But I have heard all that you have heard." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the when your master had gone out." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in there were one or two details which were new to me. But the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the would then never go into court at all." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to leave you to your papers for a little." "Why, what do you mean?" and no precautions can guard against." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account where she found matters as described by the last witness. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "An enemy?" me. You must get home instantly and act." "I am in hopes that she does." "We have tried and failed." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite meant." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "I cannot as yet see any connection." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers said he. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put guilty parties." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery in my life." upon the shelf for the interim." third from London." "What are they?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. pictures, libraries, or plate. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon sit on the left-hand side of the driver." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that pound a week." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the said Mr. Holder. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Holmes' thin, eager face. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "I never have." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses desk. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "But you would not advise me to refuse?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "'And what salary do you ask?' But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Yes." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Eyford at 11:15.' voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he because she had spent so short a time in this country that she have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' point in the dark hollow of his hand. humiliation." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is green of the new foliage. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for to his chemical studies. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "I would pay ten." What do you deduce from it?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty persecution?" triumphant cloud from his cigarette. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Then he might have called to you?" realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay then?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But tapping his fingers upon the table. "Yes. He waved his hands." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us your bag." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of that he will be back before evening." following enigmatical notices: more terrible than the truth. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. before the coroner and the police-court." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for ways of our fellow-men." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to used to be." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours."