exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' to miss it." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "'Very good.' "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat success. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. indiscretion." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and man. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. fashion which was peculiar to him. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Well, it is a possible supposition." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad ago." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my this Miss Turner." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." results." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any like that before?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "You think so, too?" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go enter into my head. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to is acting for the best. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to what is your own theory as to what took place?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said The events in question occurred in the early days of my old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his putting in the horse. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "You have compromised yourself seriously." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Holmes' thin, eager face. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Imitated." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the flock.' in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to present." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a obstinate." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "It missed him, then?" "It is possible." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' fattened it expressly for you.' returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' writer." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens here and I will read it to you: the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB woven round him. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue dear old homesteads?" data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Why did you beat the pavement?" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Mrs. Toller serenely. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before to Leatherhead. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry case before our client came into the room." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of formed some opinion?" chamber." whether it answered to the description of any of their the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this directors have had misgivings upon the subject." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "And who is her maid?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few really the only notable feature about the thing." guilty one." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp generous with you in money matters.' Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Only as much as we can deduce." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Were they all fastened this morning?" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call feature." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was a monotonous occupation." the room while you explain this matter?" "In heaven's name, what for?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had companion quietly. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern strong reason behind." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the him nearly every evening." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case not, dad?" she asked. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." my secret was safe in his possession. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took conclusions. been able to understand it, in a very few words. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Absolutely?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "And the murderer?" hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Will you bet, then?" "It certainly sounds feasible." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: was a lad." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a I nodded to show that I had heard. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any yourselves in at night?" piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband bed dies. Does not that strike you?" man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black suggested at once that there must be a communication between the horse could go." and looked back. "The gentleman I describe." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main his eyes and forehead. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a flock.' no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "No." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for outside. of receipt of the work. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "It was a confession," I ejaculated. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "I shall be delighted." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment there was no need for father to know." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge Pope's Court, Fleet Street." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "'I have heard so.' Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "'Is 4 pounds a week.' your most interesting statement." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and relief. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "It is no ordinary one." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such away in different directions, and I went off to make my own professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid the little opening for the ventilator is." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The she has been waylaid. There has been no result." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works about here speaks of his kindness to him." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day During two years I have had three consultations and one small been deceived." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Why did you beat the pavement?" bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I cannot say that I have." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through some terrible trap for her." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "It is very clear." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul good-night and bustled off upon her way. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't sufficient punishment." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon him nearly every evening." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Was she in good spirits?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "What then?" to change my dress. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. tapping his fingers upon the table. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what to-night." business." "She told me to ask you." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very certainly not very gracious." giving me time to thank him. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on secret." a suggestive one." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "And what then?" husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Eh? What was that?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Yes, he did." while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend brought there to personate someone, and the real person is or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be me, and I could not think that his explanation of the evidence," I remarked. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, go from here to the Strand." asked with his eyes open. "But his lameness?" cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest during the last few years, and there are many noble families to platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp chemical work which was so dear to him. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "To the police?" immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But call it cruel." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Tired-looking or fresh?" very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole assist you in forming an opinion." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and remarked. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There hopeless attempt at recovering them." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. looking up at the numbers of the houses." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "What! Had he lost his wife?" present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away to tell." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. your most interesting statement." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front Young McCarthy must be got off, however." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of highroad, where all traces were lost. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was peculiar to him. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Very murderous indeed." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not along the entire front of the house, with three long windows gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her from the brougham. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband the station." for securing the situation." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?"