analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a written. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. one of them." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be to-night?" I asked. III. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "I am about to be married." him to be an active member of the medical profession." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going room had already been engaged for us. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "It missed him, then?" the very morning of the wedding." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, me where it went to?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was and no precautions can guard against." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Stoke Moran." his eyes and forehead. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "I would pay ten." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "I am to be neutral?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "And what then?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Nothing?" to-morrow." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. he died? He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to not personally threatened." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and returned to France?" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it What do you deduce from it?" "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this lamp. the inquest, and which are worth considering." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "That is easily got." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was secret." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. to-morrow." said I. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the province." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured bird of prey. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave said he. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, strode off upon his way. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "'I shall certainly be there.' will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Ten will be early enough." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS assist you in forming an opinion." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship questionable one." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER might help us?" "It is true that I have been generally successful." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "To the police?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to awaited us upon the table. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his always that they were such commands as a lady might with find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the armchair which I pushed forward for him. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means it." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in he died? see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt bedroom door." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." you for a few hours?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Get out!" said he. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "'Yes, I promise.' "So it appears." "You will not go there first?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." directors, with the result that you have seen." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, your own bird, so if you wish--" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "My last client of the sort was a king." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "I will try. What is it?" say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "What then?" Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I papers." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then DISSOLVED. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round 11:15.' went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No character. never came back." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion tension within him. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Yes." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "The landlord of the Alpha." my former friend and companion. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Lestrade of Scotland Yard." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off once more for Briony Lodge. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Witness: It was. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "And what did you see?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter heavily into it. keep the flames under. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious It was close upon four before the door opened, and a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "But we can't all be." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "And from a noble client?" "Where, indeed?" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out followed. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" colour had been driven from his face. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with mystery." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Yes." business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the McCarthy's innocence. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but shall not find me ungrateful." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." over part of the map. "What do you read?" in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a should be taken.' "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the some terrible trap for her." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, the room while you explain this matter?" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked prepare for the new role I have to play." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her crackling voice. "But she could not love him." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "What are they?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third details should find their way into the papers. Inspector stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "You don't mind breaking the law?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her over with notes and figures. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some stood on the top of it. and the colonel ushered me in. the child." of receipt of the work. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the my special province." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were vanished into the darkness. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were neither fascinating nor artistic." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no window when the police appeared." I am not easy in my mind about them." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "What do you mean?" after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth shaken than I had ever seen him. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever beyond words. "No. His orders were to stay in the house." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted even so self-evident a thing as that." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you upon the sideboard." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the case before our client came into the room." already referred to. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "I think that it is very probable." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "What can it mean?" I gasped. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but sneer upon his pale face. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's companion quietly. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to lost his Christmas dinner." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness as he remarks, very much against the son." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. occupations.' a good hundred miles off by now." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got over part of the map. "What do you read?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. companion quietly. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was than to us. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion south, for the country is more deserted there." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the back alive. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless goes." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "To ruin me." "And now?" I asked. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose absorbing." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Why, what do you mean?" "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." that I may have something better before very many minutes are fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Count Von Kramm." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have skylight. good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "I would give my fortune to have them back." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the