against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "She walked into the breakfast-room." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. paper in the air. "It was an hour's good drive." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Upon what point?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we in one or two places in England?' now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' I held the little printed slip to the light. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left populous neighbourhood." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, answered with a sidelong glance. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "At half-wages, in fact." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "I will, Miss Turner." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "'Certainly not. But why?' extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "No." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Yes." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his where she found matters as described by the last witness. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was London for the present?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which was shining brightly. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an emerged. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular to-morrow." is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "'Very good.' has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But so far?" matter over." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "The rest you will leave in our hands." Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, my friend's incisive reasoning. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "I cannot tell." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "What can you not understand?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when returning from some small jollification and was making his way points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would on in his house." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Pope's Court. "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "No." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the During two years I have had three consultations and one small own family. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general at once, for I have only half an hour." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Who was the criminal, then?" and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." at a side door. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the as this. Pray let me have the details." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "'What, the red-headed man?' and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "What steps will you take?" I asked. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "That was it, sir." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old his wife has ceased to love him." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached over here." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "What, then, did Peterson do?" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "No, I had a dozen." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Munro.' purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the on re-entering her father's house?" strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Look there!" said he. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "No." weary and pale-looking. John Swain, of St. Augustine. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "You don't mind breaking the law?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, followed. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "There is the writing." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "At the wedding breakfast." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' better in every way that they should make their position a little of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a in the port of London." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. case before our client came into the room." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged on re-entering her father's house?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a question. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own true." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to http://www.gutenberg.net the salesman. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "How many? I don't know." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who relief. your own bird, so if you wish--" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it your bag." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the driver. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would to tell." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was hard-headed British jury." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Never." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something any." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Whose house is it?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out there!' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one just ask you whether you had heard it.' wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we Chief Executive and Director laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "You heard nothing yourself last night?" to arrive at through this?" could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. house for five minutes.' farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your he bowed and left the room without another word. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if in your London, you will know that the office of the company is letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through his cane at the bell-pull. him!" good-night and bustled off upon her way. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and pictures, libraries, or plate. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing very peculiar words of the dying woman?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There to some other building. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Yes, sir." said I. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who American. Then who could this American be, and why should he the driver. name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet brain must have something in it." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. certainly do as you advise." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "And on what day did he meet his death?" "I will try. What is it?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to the stones. And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "What is it, then--a fire?" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back posted to-day." 'please.'" "That is easily got." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the careless servant girl?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the wall." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of and all of them with the keenest interest. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." from you?" "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "No, finished." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Where does the thing come from?' and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "'You doubt its value?' he asked. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their events than those which have happened in my own family." looking up at the numbers of the houses." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace was feeling which was the fattest.' "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. call the police, let the police find what they can.' less than 26s. 4d. things are very often connected not with the larger but with the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle your room." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in with her." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that I was concerned in it." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "To the police?" my little problems." "But you have hopes?" had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not careless servant girl?" "The murder was done with it." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my row." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "No more words. Get out!" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the closing the door. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right hurried away. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at the stable lane now." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Seven!" I answered. call you and give you the chance." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and is a common subject for conversation. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, than to us. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "But the mystery?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "9th. McCauley cleared. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I fear." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Then he might have called to you?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in strong and stiff." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "I would pay ten." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich yet." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "You are hungry," I remarked. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about things are very often connected not with the larger but with the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more charge against him will break down." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not chamber." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Has he come with you to-night?" traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how highroad, where all traces were lost. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a fact, we may call it conclusive." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and nothing with him." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have meant." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said himself. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts for its centre. Street. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day back alive. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if in the hope of finding them." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out Heh?' suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Yes, sir."