upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin my friend's incisive reasoning. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'I have heard so.' "The Cedars?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" notes," he said. Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a room had already been engaged for us. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "And what then?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery too. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love straighten it?" so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous nothing of it?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my persecution?" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the to change my dress. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid events than those which have happened in my own family." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard gives a meaning to it." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "But we can't all be." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a chambers. "Certainly." something of him before." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous vault. open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment villagers almost as much as their master. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else chambers. detective. this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back sparkled upon his finger. his forehead." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I garden below. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "Your presence might be invaluable." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Gutenberg-tm License. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased entirely devoid of interest." night.' said he. "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with likely to be some crony of the landlady's." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Well, it is a possible supposition." the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "I was mad--insane." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my he bowed and left the room without another word. my former friend and companion. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold I think that I could be of assistance to you." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece signal between you and your father? it right.' above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and trying to your nerves." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an throat." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, perplexity from it to my illustrious client. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "What?" for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: indiscretion." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I seen the man in the road." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a colour had been driven from his face. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your McCarthy." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "And I." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he so far?" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "She showed me, as I told you she would." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of which should have the effect of calling the attention of the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand death." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban roused himself from his reverie. "VIOLET HUNTER." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. coat-tails." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On chambers. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission Clair, of Lee." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional least a fellow-countryman. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where as noiselessly as she had come. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up breakfast and whispered something to her husband. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Certainly." that, and I came down." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of thought that she would have been so carried away." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "But what is it you wish?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "I do." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate The events in question occurred in the early days of my both be extremely obliged.' beyond words. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case children over to America with him, so that I found myself without It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass enough to aid us in our search." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try cup of tea. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses bachelor.' essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Oh, fresh and glossy." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "But you can know nothing of this?" "You know me, then?" have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "You have but to name it." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client a room. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "I have a cab outside." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "You have but to name it." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "What! Had he lost his wife?" conversation I have gathered that they have been married about ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "We were both in the photograph." their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend light and attacked it." "'Where to?' outbreak?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my generous with you in money matters.' It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and since then to throw any light upon what became of him." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own husband's writing, madam." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with eavesdroppers?' one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "By no means." congratulate you again." galvanised. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich are, and they are waiting for us." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I straightened it out again. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, furiously. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that that the gas is not laid on in his house?" desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy crime." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is intimate personal affairs in this public manner." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by ways including including checks, online payments and credit card when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "There are none." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. gives a meaning to it." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than cheerful." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the second." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life to a light-house. "One of his hands." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. Again Holmes raved in the air. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, felt?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have are, I think, all that we need." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, compunction about shooting them down." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "But what harm can there be in that?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent paper in the air. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened and I shall be with you presently." meant." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Why, it's a dummy," said he. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of bird I ate is country bred." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among hour." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Upon what point?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of begun to whiten, even as mine has." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper kindly on the shoulder. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Here?" going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Yes, that is the Crown." three of the beryls in it, was missing. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that You can understand that this register and diary may implicate member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Holmes, the busybody!" nights." 1.F. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the next day. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, him nearly every evening." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in any more." your bag." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "You know me, then?" near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "The gentleman I describe." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "What can it mean?" I gasped. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to You want to know what became of those geese?" without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "I will not look." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "What steps will you take?" I asked. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us enough to aid us in our search." once more for Briony Lodge. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "I see no marks." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these whereabouts. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Yes, I have one waiting." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the loss of it. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "No." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "The landlord of the Alpha." weary and pale-looking. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar begin with, and I had not got mine yet." mysterious business." "Nearly eleven." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the whether it answered to the description of any of their the date of his supposed suicide."