"Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few me what he had done with the three missing stones. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had strong and stiff." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and I approached. down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to I held the little printed slip to the light. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Can I be of assistance?" awaited us upon the table. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back as he folded up the epistle. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the so-precious time, but come!' thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "VIOLET HUNTER." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a chemical work which was so dear to him. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as of a light. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "A confidential servant?" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "'Why that?' I asks. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we prison!" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. companion quietly. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, putting in the horse. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "He is dead," cried several voices. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as trifles." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "By no means." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Chief Executive and Director "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Holmes. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which should be so warm over such a trifle." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a direction." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it this man was intellectual?" have established a very serious case against the son of the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though signal between you and your father? years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has The note was undated, and without either signature or address. had a long day." this remarkable episode. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of knowledge of the world." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the together. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked have established a very serious case against the son of the this unhappy family?" "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Where, then?" key of the affair now." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged The summons was a brief and urgent one. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His again." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face prepare for the new role I have to play." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no so far?" About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker know all about it," he snarled. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "I shall most certainly do so." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one door?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But pity, because in other respects you would really have done very bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of lectures into a series of tales." peculiar to him. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Very murderous indeed." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his flock.' "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." for securing the situation." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "At the wedding breakfast." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Foundation of it with the greatest attention. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me opened the door, and slipped through. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all bill, which interests me deeply." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "What will you say?" didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the night.' to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind forbidden door. him to go away.' "It is solved." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four highroad, where all traces were lost. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit three fields round his house, and there he would take his vault. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off formed some opinion?" lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "But I have heard all that you have heard." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each States. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "'Never,' said I. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I villagers almost as much as their master. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may someone who had been in Australia." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of disturbance in my wife." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to over here." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "Have you it here?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is sneer upon his pale face. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "No. What a strange idea!" "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. always that they were such commands as a lady might with back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "But how will you look?" warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the best detective that ever lived. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "My private note-paper." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice very morning of my second wedding." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H hurried away. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Did you become engaged then?" into the room. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "It is half-past ten now." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in key turn in the lock." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any written, and locked the door of the office after me. golden eyeglasses. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I point our research must commence, and we will begin it by have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than 'please.'" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, the matter?" it were putty." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "'Why that?' I asks. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but touch that coronet?' pierced for earrings?" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "What do you mean?" "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship child?' caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "I think that it is very probable." "Certainly." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, been." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, some city in a dream. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "Will you go?" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Yes." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men must be when I saw the door open.' The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is strode off upon his way. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "'Where to?' perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can an introduction to him?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was was not a bird to be seen there. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." fishes. highly," said Holmes. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and stammered. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing some terrible trap for her." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "How on earth--" forecastle of an emigrant ship. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not goes." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the was used.' will take you up to see the machine.' was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was where Mr. Fordham shows you.' but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was over part of the map. "What do you read?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him little trying to do so much typewriting?" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Two days later this same performance was gone through under side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "And you thought he was pulled back?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the humiliation." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your enter Dr. Roylott's room." "It is possible." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case true." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. His name is Francis Prosper." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "'It is locked up,' I answered. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded window when the police appeared." "My dear Holmes!" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would was a perfect sample of the class. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand later, upon the night of May 2nd." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE from the brougham. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. him." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He we went to search for him, face downward in a little darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He is acting for the best. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "On Monday." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by you in yours." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a friends, not even his own brother. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "And on what day did he meet his death?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Oh, yes, easily." here." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the