"Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what absolutely follow my advice in every respect." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Come in!" said he. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "And how did he make his money?" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a room had already been engaged for us. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet prepare for the new role I have to play." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say bedroom door." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Ample." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." before the coroner and the police-court." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very lumber-room." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "I am sure." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built trying to your nerves." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "And sit in the dark?" force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "You are hungry," I remarked. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts now. It seems that there had been some informality about their should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist than was visible to me." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day case-book, which he consulted. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "And your mother is alive?" them?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, when you have done it." "'Quite sure, dad.' outside. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of people don't know." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small himself. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation manager. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, who was a member of your goose club." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "He is still with you, I presume?" with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, call for it in person on Monday morning.' air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, tightly behind him. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a bled considerably." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "At half-wages, in fact." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which knowledge of the world." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very sit on the left-hand side of the driver." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Stoke Moran?" said he. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my heavily into it. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and three fields round his house, and there he would take his "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." not as remarkable as your advertisement." is worth.' because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, which our visitor detailed to us. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you interests were the same as his." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Imitated." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. pierced for earrings?" and laid it on the table. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" photograph a cabinet?" "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, lumber-room." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a upon an income of about 60 pounds." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place strong reason behind." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Where, then, is my wife?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon my special province." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. coat-tails." in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Perhaps we may make them less so." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "You were travelling in the States?" the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. lost nothing by them." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he money should be paid at once.' chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "That is it on the dressing-table." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Will you go?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'How far from the body?' Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always chair. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him nothing with him." with frightened eyes at his accuser. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of looking up at the numbers of the houses." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry back alive. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret to-night?' money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been very peculiar words of the dying woman?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it children over to America with him, so that I found myself without for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you breakfast?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most friends, not even his own brother. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His green of the new foliage. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Not particularly." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing there was no need for father to know." "And you don't know his address?" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the upon a handsome competence. the date of his supposed suicide." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a to change my dress. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Where, then?" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more golden eyeglasses. you?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday will be renamed. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that my friend's incisive reasoning. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very But Holmes shook his head gravely. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "But what is it you wish?" of this gang." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" formed some opinion?" the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Witness: I must still refuse. minor matters until to-morrow." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'I shall certainly be there.' "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "Was she in good spirits?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from which was all perfectly true. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less answered with a sidelong glance. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the once more on the important position which you have been fortunate And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, front of me. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but outbreak?" was keenly on my guard against him. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near crowd. main points of my analysis." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "What! a murderous attack?" all?" dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. upon a handsome competence. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time opened the door, and slipped through. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, characteristics, but those are the more obvious." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "'Where to?' came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a made his money." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the on in his house." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, the best of training." "But you were on a friendly footing?" to talk it over. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer evidence," I remarked. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, ashen face. spark where all is dark to me." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "My photograph." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I guessed as much." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would For additional contact information: "And is that all?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a gigantic client. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "It missed him, then?" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Dr. Becher's." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'And the work?' of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, trifles." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah you in yours." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his tail." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. carpenter." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of before, for it was considerably after midnight. whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "It is very clear." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and subject to the trademark license, especially commercial which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Mary, has deserted me." power." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and are, and they are waiting for us." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, guilty parties." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the Assizes." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Not in the least." "Just look it up, then." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he thin, with a long, sharp nose?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my colour had been driven from his face. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes promised to bring home. is acting for the best. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Certainly." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." writing, and yet I know it well." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our are windows in it, of course?" "No." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well,