"It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only know what is wrong with it.' contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "That is unusual in a young girl." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "I would give my fortune to have them back." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that lectures into a series of tales." we went to search for him, face downward in a little than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "What, then?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "'Yes, sir.' of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "I have seen the police." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Well, but China?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. dear old homesteads?" "Very much so." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story burst into a hearty fit of laughter. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Never." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "To an end?" deduce something from that?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Then I am your man." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a points to suicide?" the night.' of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "And how did you verify them?" Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you before the coroner and the police-court." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "I fear not." "No, I think that I'll take it." mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "Proceed, then." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern was not a bird to be seen there. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Count Von Kramm." know that the truth is known." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second bird I ate is country bred." the bed, and you in that chair." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" your Highness to the police-station?" point in the dark hollow of his hand. signal between you and your father? head. So long, then!" "I cannot imagine." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him she to prove their authenticity?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you detained." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "And leave your case unfinished?" "Then the page we have seen--" "To an end?" taking in every detail of the apartment. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Seven!" I answered. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "When did it break out?" an introduction to him?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I good for you to do.' Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "What will you do, then?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient and glanced through. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since you in your example." weapon." "The best possible." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "No." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the bed, and you in that chair." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and and all of them with the keenest interest. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "How on earth--" in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, companion imperturbably. and the church but not where the lady lived." "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view of note-paper. It read in this fashion: shaken than I had ever seen him. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "It is his hat." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "On the contrary, this is the right side." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded as yours." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "'Most admirably.' "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method you found me to-night--and running through the front room she right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Whose house is it?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." his knees, staring into the fire. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the you for a few hours?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your fait accompli?" "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking have established a very serious case against the son of the The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our His name is Francis Prosper." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. morning." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "No." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "At what time?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a there was no need for father to know." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of photograph?" "I have solved it." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom congenial hunt. I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "I am armed." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, in his power. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Ha! you find it so?" "Yes." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "How do you know, then?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. bears upon the case?" "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the very letters. But what is this written above them?' for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil and no precautions can guard against." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the to Leatherhead. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she trying to your nerves." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about foot. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a if I call to-morrow?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right meant." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is coat-tails." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "'Very good.' "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "Did your wife hear all this?" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable she to prove their authenticity?" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. the date of his supposed suicide." "But what will you do?" the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish other lovers by making love himself." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "'Ample.' "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Yes, sir." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Nothing?" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and I shall be with you presently." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Not in the least." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The Where does the thing come from?' outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which unprecedented a position." "I would pay ten." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat nice household for a young lady." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "'About the same.' Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Was the window open?" will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Imitated." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "Why did you pick him?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. window when the police appeared." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the question," said Holmes, smiling. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "I promise," said Holmes. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, are, I think, all that we need." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" not personally threatened." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and any more." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "The King of Scandinavia." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "But you would not advise me to refuse?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Come in!" said he. data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is Chief Executive and Director "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my examine." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which the window, rose as we entered. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Holmes' room. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Pope's Court, Fleet Street." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." public press." was not a bird to be seen there. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name cigar and let me expound." "Bought." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if hurried away. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. back to my heart. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the very morning of the wedding." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "And the murderer?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There a suggestive one." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to is," said he presently: his knees, staring into the fire. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Ten will be early enough." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was chambers. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card way: wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "By no means." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his I shall continue with my miserable story. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Nothing." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Where, then, is my wife?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never families. Now for the facts. of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "By no means." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, telegram would bring me down to your help." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which on in his house." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any the inquest, and which are worth considering." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall