have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is not personally threatened." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly them present such singular features as the strange train of the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then little adventures." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen in his power. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm me where it went to?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." figure." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of instituted." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "There are none." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had golden eyeglasses. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Oh, the cause is excellent!" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "How did you trace it, then?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in the matter?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Yes, from Horsham." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "'There is a drive, then?' "And Miss Sutherland?" help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a hand, madam?" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "And you can do nothing until then?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay whether it answered to the description of any of their it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, started for the Temple to see my husband. "And how did he make his money?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's man. I know him from the photograph." murdered man." "I would pay ten." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told I. "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, other lovers by making love himself." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." point in the dark hollow of his hand. his wife has ceased to love him." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "So I am. Very much so." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He McCarthy." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt place, I think that there is good ground to think that the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for never will be, entirely cleared up. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the of this gang." "Look there!" said he. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, were unconscious?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, followed. "You have carte blanche." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for use an arc-and-compass breastpin." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "But what harm can there be in that?" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger once more to my work. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in Mrs. Toller serenely. to take care of herself." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing society." tightly behind him. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Of what day?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, it right.' I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite true." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently fire. You quite follow me?" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed that I may have something better before very many minutes are rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of have one." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'As governess?' "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the persecution?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare cigar and let me expound." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a at home. "Not him." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, assist you in forming an opinion." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." details." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and eavesdroppers?' game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that started for the Temple to see my husband. go--none." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "'Entirely.' "And now?" He raised his hand. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She our word." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." me. You must get home instantly and act." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. before, for it was considerably after midnight. responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that shadow pass over his face as I spoke. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire golden eyeglasses. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Not social, then?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Could he throw no light?" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the mystery." forbidden door. "But it has twice been burgled." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being fatally injured? so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the child." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into place no limit on the sum I may draw." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "You horrify me." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Certainly." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he bird I ate is country bred." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such there was no need for father to know." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Did your wife hear all this?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "I have solved it." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "You have compromised yourself seriously." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "I answered that I had not. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." lamp. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an together. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so front of the hall door has given its name to the place. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant 1.E.9. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Stoke Moran?" said he. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "And you don't know his address?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "'I am sure if I had known--' you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without cause to be." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how the ceiling. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an charge against him will break down." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Tired-looking or fresh?" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. copied or distributed: his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our sparkled upon his finger. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." and that he would see to anything that turned up. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Then you may entirely rely on me." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed been deceived." himself to tell his story. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "'There is a drive, then?' "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in James Windibank. Voilà tout!" that you wished to speak to me?' unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Not social, then?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' in the port of London." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I stepfather?" say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the your troubles." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand next day. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Oh, yes, easily." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "It is half-past ten now." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "There are none." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "'Certainly not. But why?' not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. take the flies, but not before." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? against a man in the prime of life?" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned himself. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black the Assizes." "Which are?" "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "And your father? Did you tell him?" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "And now?" He raised his hand. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading interested in these little problems, and since you are good of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "That you are never beaten." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed ceremony." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my six. Come in!" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel away into the river." "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held other lovers by making love himself." License. You must require such a user to return or some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "'I shall certainly be there.' instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." comes from the middle window." retorted upon me, and I on you." voice, changing her seat as requested. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "You have it, sir, just as it happened." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "May I see it?" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" business." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were weighed down with some great anxiety. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had burst into a hearty fit of laughter. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings forbidden door. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the a monotonous occupation." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at head. So long, then!" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." heavily into it. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his