"How did you deduce the select?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The very peculiar words of the dying woman?" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "The landlord of the Alpha." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and was shining brightly. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Can I be of assistance?" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'Certainly,' I answered. trifles." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said in this way: "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should and it need not interfere very much with one's other "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "But how will you look?" as the one I chose?' confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'Never.' line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Stolen, then." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his during the last few years, and there are many noble families to unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course the bed, and you in that chair." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had to arrive at through this?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I goes." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing awkward doing business with an alias." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" ourselves in the office." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless official police." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having of it with the greatest attention. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and I leave." nothing with him." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Eyford." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to in the hope of finding them." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "I will try. What is it?" in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. it were putty." answered with a sidelong glance. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler dear old homesteads?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the general public were present, then?" eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "What then?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "No, my brougham is waiting." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I see many objections to any such theory." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" peculiar to him. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my back into the street. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we go--none." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is assist you in forming an opinion." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an late." The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set you?' Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation followed. "The vanishing of the lady." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the that there was nothing in it, after all." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon a few minutes he said that it would be all right. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down your sleep?' and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between appeared upon the scene." society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the little adventures." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has fear." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to me have 200 pounds?' should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical charged with?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I am sure." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his if she died from some sudden fright." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "One of the highest in England." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "It's nothing of the kind." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "What do you make of that, Watson?" metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, Project Gutenberg-tm works. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how character. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to likely to be some crony of the landlady's." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the it were putty." "I say that I have solved it." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Yes, the wine-cellar." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn redistribution. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom at home. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. them?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." excitement. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper floor. during which he might have communicated with his friend the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "You saw the ventilator, too?" hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat never came back." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Stoke Moran?" said he. definite end. copied or distributed: avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and I. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, the house with me." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you fatally injured? six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons in a friendly supper." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. and it need not interfere very much with one's other grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This to me. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the the coronet in his hand?" "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I you want, then?' fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a secret." The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Bought." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" III. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been himself to tell his story. grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Eh? What was that?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let nonsense.' "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there straighten it?" "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the disappearance of these gems?" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "It certainly sounds feasible." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have man. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Were they all fastened this morning?" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "'Never,' said I. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "I have my revolver," said I. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything me. a monotonous occupation." gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Your French gold?" refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover imbecility!" he cried. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah me where it went to?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "To an English lawyer named Norton." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an States. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "You were travelling in the States?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate have one." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in his eyes and forehead. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. pictures, libraries, or plate. Countess of Morcar's?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual tied." annoyance, but no jest. I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us in my life." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in McCarthy." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read strong and stiff." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a and laid it on the table. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed relief. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both fishes. I was concerned in it." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you went to the Alpha were town bred." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "He is still with you, I presume?" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he cheerful." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was that?' latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to his fortune, and I went back to pa. giving me time to thank him. the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any confronted him. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in American. Then who could this American be, and why should he order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your as this. Pray let me have the details." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "And from a noble client?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay photograph?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Witness: It was. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done the address that was given us in the advertisement. photograph a cabinet?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "At half-wages, in fact." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, your equipment. narrative." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land good for you to do.' "She will not sell." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "And your mother is alive?" before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a and your relations to her." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'Entirely.' "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "So I am. Very much so." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a