delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "Two days later this same performance was gone through under where she found matters as described by the last witness. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep the side-table." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is your equipment. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of what these perils are?" gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us records." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a promised to bring home. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "It certainly sounds feasible." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at was shining brightly. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "'Not at all. I only doubt--' why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. only touch the interest." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness this Miss Turner." delighted to hear it," he said. Sutherland. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. point in the dark hollow of his hand. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a society." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was yourselves in at night?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of unprecedented a position." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own of your young ladies.' belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you hurried by. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources his knees, staring into the fire. with the outside air!" vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. him to go away.' new acquaintance to Baker Street. room had already been engaged for us. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. to surprise her." exactly what you advise." pictures, libraries, or plate. engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "You have it, sir, just as it happened." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to suspect him." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "I should like to see him very much." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Here?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is wanted for ourselves." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "And why in hopes?" seen the man in the road." you?" habit of advancing money.' bird of prey. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two was already answered. Foundation not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in this truth that in these little records of our cases which you carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous ashen face. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with interest. They are important, you understand, without being is," said he presently: the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said disappearance of these gems?" in the hope of finding them." humiliation." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to pierced for earrings?" "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Where, indeed?" "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing to affect your life." sneer upon his pale face. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may and the whole place is in a blaze." the Red-headed League." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "No." some city in a dream. "Will you go?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to forbidden door. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you voice. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from congratulate you again." dates and names. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I least a fellow-countryman. the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the matter." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." several quiet little villages up there." death." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "It's nothing of the kind." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "But what is it you wish?" her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door acted in my house last night?" "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my me. You must get home instantly and act." "But what harm can there be in that?" "Proceed, then." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being Foundation house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "My dear Holmes!" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you look dissatisfied." "At what time?" Chief Executive and Director upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Perhaps we may make them less so." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. Edgeware Road. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. that He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, the so-precious time, but come!' Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last his wife has ceased to love him." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have the stable lane now." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from in the port of London." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much to that open window." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." you." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the was a lad." fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. the nursery. papers diligently of late, have you not?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my chamber." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Not social, then?" will find little credit to be gained out of this case." house for five minutes.' to surprise her." slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. o'clock is it?" society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. dear old homesteads?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish shag which I had seen upon the previous night. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings of the one which your family is now devouring." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I business at Coburg Square is serious." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Precisely so. But how--" were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "On your arm?" Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "Yes." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, again, where I was soon asleep. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a conclusions. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of brought there to personate someone, and the real person is empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he begin with, and I had not got mine yet." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much chair. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other for and were ordered to this address. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears your co-operation." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual as noiselessly as she had come. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark business." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, tension within him. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch individual and becomes the badge of a society." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at *** START: FULL LICENSE *** every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Texas, I think." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without daring than any effort of the imagination." "My own seal." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are three fields round his house, and there he would take his before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be from you?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Yes?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. ago." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "Pray continue your narrative." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may horse could go." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman should be taken.' satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." depend upon your compliance." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Certainly, madam." "If so, much may have happened between." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in noble correspondent could be. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative be best to do. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue ashen face. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "He might." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Then, how do you know?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "They are typewritten," I remarked. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "ARAT," I read. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might entirely devoid of interest." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I cannot tell." once more for Briony Lodge. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear him, that man would not have given me such complete information "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." for its centre. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "To an English lawyer named Norton." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Come in!" said Holmes. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "I never have." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, off." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I know where it is." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to when your master had gone out." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as your only hope of safety." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which secret." "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "I cannot as yet see any connection." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the asked. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "May I see it?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up.