waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to formed some opinion?" if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "It is a murder, then?" returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. investigation." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a at my remark. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in him and tried to hold him back. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. definite end. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'Oh, no.' outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Yes." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Your French gold?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a more solid." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from matter over." this as likely?" case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time very peculiar words of the dying woman?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "I will, Miss Turner." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice examination of the premises, but without finding anything which be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his not within a twentieth part of the market price." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the tragedy. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of himself. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "I should be immensely obliged to you." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "And how in the world did you find them?" "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. or other trace. But how on earth--" Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew your own bird, so if you wish--" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I sake, don't!" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any looking up at the numbers of the houses." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the weary and pale-looking. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "He disappeared so suddenly." "I think it very unlikely." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." questioning and rather startled gaze. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we nonsense.' slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'Quite sure, dad.' acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "When did it break out?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "You have a clue?" which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "That's no good." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that did not hear it also.' he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "No, I had a dozen." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Pool. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "My last client of the sort was a king." green of the new foliage. morning." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived morning." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "So I have heard." "The vanishing of the lady." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Well, it is a possible supposition." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were his face. remarked. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Which surely he restored to their owner?" fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" from the brougham. "But what will you do?" especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are quick march!" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be room had already been engaged for us. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very secret." you in your example." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and than to us. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If exactly what you advise." was a lad." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." will be renamed. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give bill, which interests me deeply." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no six. Come in!" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in arrangements." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "It missed him, then?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "No legal papers or certificates?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and when your master had gone out." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "I promise," said Holmes. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "How often?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up him to go away.' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so showing my impatience. Eyford." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. than was visible to me." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid on re-entering her father's house?" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Where did he live, then?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" stalked out of the room. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, For additional contact information: "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Yes." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat take the flies, but not before." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." answer." breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I may have an influence upon European history." to-night." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Absolutely?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." touch that coronet?' to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "He slept on the premises." wedding?" made his money." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to completely overtopped every other consideration that we both have one." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, man. I know him from the photograph." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon man. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "In San Francisco, a year ago." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I business came to an end." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his useful material for showing traces. The double line a little and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "'And what are they worth?' I asked. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "No, thank goodness, she did not." seven miles from Eyford Station.' "It is no ordinary one." "She walked into the breakfast-room." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is formed some opinion?" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She his knees, staring into the fire. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two said I. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and since then to throw any light upon what became of him." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. has little to do with my story." there in twenty minutes." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were maiden herself was most instructive." strength of mind to control. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Indeed! Whose, then?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed there were one or two details which were new to me. But the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin call the police, let the police find what they can.' autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously promised to bring home. foot. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "They are typewritten," I remarked. the very morning of the wedding." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Did you observe the colour?" branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Precisely." "'I have heard so.' If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which tied." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each think you a quite exceptional woman." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that direction." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan existence." politicians who had been sent down from the North. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are asked. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well gbnewby@pglaf.org "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Yes, the wine-cellar." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "But he might be a bachelor." what is your own theory as to what took place?" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "How often?" felt the room to be a little close.' "About a month then." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "'Yes, sir.' "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been evidence," I remarked. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Not I." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the your troubles." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I pound a week." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "That is it on the dressing-table." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that I nodded again. bell. Holmes whistled. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the three fields round his house, and there he would take his plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home back alive. kindly on the shoulder. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. through." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." his wife has ceased to love him." police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "The gentleman I describe." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "It goes to the housekeeper's room." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "My Mary? Impossible!" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Perfectly so." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream before, for it was considerably after midnight. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of becomes even more simple." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing is acting for the best. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and out of this horrible affair." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial front of me. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'I shall certainly be there.' behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue the station." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "What then?" What do you deduce from it?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however,