hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a made his money." bonnet, and went out." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely other lovers by making love himself." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "At half-wages, in fact." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words congenial hunt. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom desk. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the vault. questionable one." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was public press." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Yesterday." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to interests were the same as his." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I am armed." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Yes." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is letters?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged quickly through a disagreeable task. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and row." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an province." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, remarked. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That not fit the lock." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "How many? I don't know." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "I will, Miss Turner." even of instruction." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Certainly." "Did you observe the colour?" "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where carpenter." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. was it brought him the coronet? of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project the date of his supposed suicide." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal impression behind it as though a window had gently closed possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some have not had my rubber." "At what time?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait than was visible to me." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I Holmes." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Why serious?" to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could question. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and man. I know him from the photograph." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six populous neighbourhood." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of said he. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "No. What a strange idea!" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two help us in this matter." appeared upon the scene." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "It is very kind of you." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was awkward doing business with an alias." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might to you." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "He said too much." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has to have that photograph." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "What?" brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you from you?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never she might be summoned. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, wedding?" envelope. desk. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "It surprised me." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the warnings." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. became a certainty. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house introspective fashion. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Very truly yours, room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be fait accompli?" "One?" "We have tried and failed." respectable self." entirely devoid of interest." lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly events, Mr. Windibank!" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "And Miss Sutherland?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "You have a clue?" yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora highroad, where all traces were lost. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "I cannot as yet see any connection." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "I never have." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran thin legs towards the fire. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not girl said." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "It was an hour's good drive." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it the address that was given us in the advertisement. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he you, my dear young lady?' was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Miss Holder?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." your co-operation." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Do you know him?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she formed some opinion?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! weighed down with some great anxiety. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." of this gang." "None." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was detained." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of done what I asked you, Jones?" on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Munro.' yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, your troubles." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by of the one which your family is now devouring." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely and no precautions can guard against." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's what I may call a really hard day's work." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Ah, but I was recommended to you." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's London for the present?" "Pray be precise as to details," said he. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was this unhappy family?" "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek during that time.' presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, business." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me that there was nothing in it, after all." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "It is solved." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily into the room. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be your co-operation." congratulate you again." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "I will do it." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Could he throw no light?" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in night.' said he. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough directors, with the result that you have seen." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back who was a member of your goose club." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "He said too much." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." what do you think they found in the pockets?" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face Eyford at 11:15.' values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have III. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "About a month then." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "'What would be the hours?' I asked. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend my little problems." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "You saw the ventilator, too?" already referred to. "Well, it is a possible supposition." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Two days later this same performance was gone through under to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had affection." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are face and glided from the room. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "And why?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "But you can know nothing of this?" the devil!" introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "By all means." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "I don't say that. Perhaps." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before derbies." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two sentimental considerations in the background which would induce so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had walking." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had man. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "'Oh, no.' remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "How did he come?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could vault. face and glided from the room. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the south, for the country is more deserted there." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Have you it here?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled generous with you in money matters.' flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "And the cigar-holder?" "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small you want, then?' Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began