"It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding wedding?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. any little problem which you may submit to me." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "I have seen the police." "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner their singular warning or token before them when starting upon twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "I see no marks." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same hopeless attempt at recovering them." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I ashen face. "Yes." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms I have it here in my museum." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Why, it's a dummy," said he. is now desirous of getting those letters back." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most in this note: with frightened eyes at his accuser. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a for securing the situation." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "And the cigar-holder?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of locked. "One of the highest in England." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason newspaper selections." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on shadow pass over his face as I spoke. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "I cannot think." would then never go into court at all." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" at my own good fortune. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the forecastle of an emigrant ship. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you danger is over." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' had this final quarrel? came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "No." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "I will get her to show me." weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain noble correspondent could be. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose information in his hands the value of which he did not himself a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Murdered?" Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There about here speaks of his kindness to him." here." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, to change my dress. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be mysterious end." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Game for a morning drive?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "We must sit without light. He would see it through the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready to some other building. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. she used." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "And why in hopes?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" coat-tails." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "An enemy?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to at my own good fortune. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but again before evening." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few me." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had pressing in one house as in another. that you saw all that I did." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "How often?" who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I matter." "'What then?' I asked. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to you." thin legs towards the fire. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my questioning and rather startled gaze. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Eyford." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if been able to understand it, in a very few words. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." matter over." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "But how?" black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "One of the highest in England." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But prepare for the new role I have to play." "No." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." what I may call a really hard day's work." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. crime. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some other, as fresh and trim as possible. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "It may not come to that," said Holmes. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered cheerful." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "The knees of his trousers." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of what I may call a really hard day's work." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "And I." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one husband's writing, madam." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Where, then?" the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "'About the same.' "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "No?" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "Yes." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Seven!" I answered. clang of the bell. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "My photograph." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was corner of the building. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave me, and I could not think that his explanation of the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down I held the little printed slip to the light. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "But what will you do?" "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Of what?" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, cigar and let me expound." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and conduct the inquiry." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I it." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic which should have the effect of calling the attention of the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't and no precautions can guard against." drove away. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the than was visible to me." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the one of the states of the Union." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the so far?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." who was a member of your goose club." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Yes, sir." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "That is easily got." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible purpose equally well?" "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, maid will bring up your coffee." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. and I shall be with you presently." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Come in!" said Holmes. "At half-wages, in fact." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. if I call to-morrow?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, in this way: "Yes?" "Well." which our visitor detailed to us. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the in the dead of the night?' which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, call for it in person on Monday morning.' wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front him, that man would not have given me such complete information year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "How about poison?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'As governess?' gone. a suggestive one." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "None." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had DISSOLVED. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Come in!" said he. "Then I am your man." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" went to the Alpha were town bred." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "I should like to see him very much." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Where to?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should would then never go into court at all." "And what did you see?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, shall not find me ungrateful." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me knowledge of the world." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with think that he is innocent?" "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. at my remark. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "That is unusual in a young girl." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Very murderous indeed." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend fasten all the windows?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Did you observe the colour?" she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.