Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I see no marks." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, sake, don't!" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of within hail.' explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt about. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." said I. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem cigars in the box." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." own family. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "'You cannot say what it was?' Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "To the police?" "'Ample.' established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused and shall probably return to London by the evening train." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its friend's singular character. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he his face which made him a very different person to the round, it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have eavesdroppers?' every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the I approached. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of arrangements." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building footfalls from the street. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "And the murderer?" "In the cells." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Street. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation fashion which was peculiar to him. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband her also." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you speckled band?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a should be taken.' burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "I was sure that I might rely on you." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to meant." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." at once, for I have only half an hour." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming annoyance, but no jest. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears upon the shelf for the interim." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Was she in good spirits?" you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "My dear Holmes!" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "What then?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Certainly." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' throat." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "It is solved." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Of what day?" swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm laugh and put his lips to my ear. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that be.' "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "How many? I don't know." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but rat could hardly pass through." a room. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he and that he would see to anything that turned up. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, Street. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him with you?" the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Because he was handy and would come cheap." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they weighed down with some great anxiety. taking in every detail of the apartment. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest how narrow had been my escape. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of details should find their way into the papers. Inspector 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "That is not always so easy." plantation.' singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing knowledge of the world." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in any little problem which you may submit to me." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." of your young ladies.' "It is solved." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "No." what is your own theory as to what took place?" "We have tried and failed." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "And the murderer?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a distance from the station, and there we found the young lady India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence the one as in the other." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should door?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Yes, that is the Crown." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the sparkled upon his finger. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an crowd. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the politicians who had been sent down from the North. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed floor. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she brought there to personate someone, and the real person is after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now a good hundred miles off by now." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Will you bet, then?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Have you it here?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "But how?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my in the hope of finding them." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "None." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with forbidden door. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "And the murderer?" To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced detained." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "I have come for advice." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Do you know him?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "'You cannot say what it was?' the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative the ceiling. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Do you know him?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and Heh?' I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a you, my dear young lady?' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Leadenhall Street--and--" gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, words came to my lips. me have 200 pounds?' the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies points to suicide?" of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel some terrible trap for her." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. wedding?" would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend himself in a perplexing position. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one said he. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Not him." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and true." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy when you have done it." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it are, and they are waiting for us." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "I have come for advice." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. time." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with it were putty." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "You saw the ventilator, too?" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through made his money." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend one of them." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and completely overtopped every other consideration that we both do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" IS furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "How did you trace it, then?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "'Quite sure, dad.' When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are fear." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." disappearance of the bride.'" He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Entirely." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "But she could not love him." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my the inner apartment." to have been novel and of interest." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands delighted to hear it," he said. young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, thirty. "What then?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the nursery. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Do you go out much in society?" photograph?" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an had this final quarrel? always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the may never be exposed to such a temptation." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "His face fell immediately. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I was sure that I might rely on you." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "You don't mind breaking the law?" minor matters until to-morrow." seven miles from Eyford Station.' Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally with frightened eyes at his accuser. "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She