glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no skylight. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "When did she vanish, then?" been." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "That is unusual in a young girl." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and purpose of examination. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and matter." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "I am in hopes that she does." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Sutherland. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together not come at once?" "My stepfather's business papers." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by vault. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "To an end?" the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "The Cedars?" a room. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I maid will bring up your coffee." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his the loss of it. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "May I see it?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I cannot tell." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord walking." watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear less than 26s. 4d. look dissatisfied." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "Come in!" said he. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Were they all fastened this morning?" think that he is innocent?" "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a looking up at the numbers of the houses." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while not interfere, come what may. You understand?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a hereditary King of Bohemia." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "In the cells." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall present." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I cannot tell." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." believe that I should never have any practice at all. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "I cannot imagine." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "What office?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the gigantic client. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and despaired of." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the always that they were such commands as a lady might with rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Yes?" done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been interested in these little problems, and since you are good lamp in his hand. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The could not have written that. It is the German who is so the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, that threaten you." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "'Yes, it was gone.' English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Whose house is it?" assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Which are?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But we went to search for him, face downward in a little "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you This is what he says: "Has he come with you to-night?" There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her way in everything. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Really! You surprise me." so far?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an hurried away. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Holmes. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I congenial hunt. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a is so. I know all about McCarthy." highroad, where all traces were lost. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that the best of training." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the best of training." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. remarked. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had that, and I came down." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your hour." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "And Miss Sutherland?" this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "'What are you doing there?' he asked. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. power." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan he bowed and left the room without another word. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. good for you to do.' "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or your co-operation." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "I cannot tell." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. than was visible to me." Mrs. Toller serenely. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated amused." have been better. It is all right." returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." would then never go into court at all." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to subject to the trademark license, especially commercial wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I the best of training." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "'Is 4 pounds a week.' than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and tapping his fingers upon the table. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done had a long day." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Game for a morning drive?" values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Not him." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." in my life." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy of the one which your family is now devouring." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "No sign of it?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Surrey." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "And when will you call?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. bill, which interests me deeply." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most always that they were such commands as a lady might with "I am sure." ago." "And the cigar-holder?" "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which was a perfect sample of the class. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, get her out of the way." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter following enigmatical notices: relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he to-night?' Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "No, I am descending." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons comes from the middle window." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "And how have you succeeded?" "You will not go there first?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a done what I asked you, Jones?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "'Is 4 pounds a week.' IS "That is unusual in a young girl." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would will find little credit to be gained out of this case." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Entirely." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "In heaven's name, what for?" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. tied." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Certainly." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You key of the affair now." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my chair. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the station." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the business matters.' Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "You'll never persuade me to believe that." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I weapon." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Why serious?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the house with me." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right locked. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, asked. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I hurried away. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two your equipment. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months mystery may be cleared along those lines." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with lectures into a series of tales." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from generous with you in money matters.' gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he