away to you." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. and capable of preserving a secret.' events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "She showed me, as I told you she would." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and bird I ate is country bred." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "What then?" and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt you." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I here." meant." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." dramatic, in fact." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small him to be an active member of the medical profession." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "'A dozen yards or so.' creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Did you observe the colour?" "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first was a loud and authoritative tap. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set lost his Christmas dinner." "The murder was done with it." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress it with his own hands." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the running down." Foundation family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as Holmes. "But you have hopes?" there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Then, as to money?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon introspective fashion. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem meant." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his extraordinary contortions. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of his cane at the bell-pull. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence and a shock of very red hair. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in this Miss Turner." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical hour?' "Stolen, then." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. my secret was safe in his possession. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "My Mary? Impossible!" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "None." whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, been." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of some water from a caraffe. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I were new raised from a basin. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered subject to the trademark license, especially commercial silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "I am following you closely," I answered. case before our client came into the room." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I emerged. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and purpose equally well?" her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will outside. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "And I to find an enemy." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over again before evening." excitement. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Have you it here?" up this clue while it is still hot." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "What! You do not mean bodies?" "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal which our visitor detailed to us. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black and effective." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' bed dies. Does not that strike you?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up about here speaks of his kindness to him." imbecility!" he cried. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and to talk it over. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Cross for the Continent." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "I think it very unlikely." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, chance at all." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Then I shall certainly come." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as she might be summoned. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend question you as to those details which seem to me to be most for the market.' then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at touch that coronet?' "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." detained." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the peculiar to him. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this gone. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" 'please.'" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Farm upon the left." said he. "One of his hands." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many him, that man would not have given me such complete information distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where daring than any effort of the imagination." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Perfectly so." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking to go into your room and bar your shutters?" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Surrey." things are very often connected not with the larger but with the quickly through a disagreeable task. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare a very grave face. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." I shall continue with my miserable story. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "I should like to see him very much." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then round and wave him away like that.' "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of case before our client came into the room." despair." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been October 9, 1890. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge you do it in twenty minutes!' daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "But you can know nothing of this?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official certainly do as you advise." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "I don't believe it." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "You did not overhear what they said?" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass shadow pass over his face as I spoke. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. them?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "If so, much may have happened between." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of him to be an active member of the medical profession." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I way in everything. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is Munro.' "I have hopes." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear me, and I could not think that his explanation of the his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "I cannot tell." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "What! a murderous attack?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my wife's character?" case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not absolutely follow my advice in every respect." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the skylight. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "How on earth--" unkempt, staring out at me. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "But what harm can there be in that?" "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. call you and give you the chance." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining you do it in twenty minutes!' mysterious end." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass on in his house." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian that I can to serve you." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Pray do so." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It begun to whiten, even as mine has." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, again." "That you are never beaten." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his thin legs towards the fire. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless a suggestive one." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, lectures into a series of tales." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached what I may call a really hard day's work." entirely devoid of interest." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Pray tell us what has happened to you." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Texas, I think." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' husband's writing, madam." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I is," said he presently: desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle you." business matters.' its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such Countess of Morcar's?" I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Do you know him?" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now emerged. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news in your London, you will know that the office of the company is corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon that I am arrested." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." if she died from some sudden fright." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Stoke Moran." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp of the vacancies.' "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' better grown goose." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the armchair which I pushed forward for him. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Stolen." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. at my remark. destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the flock.' face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no