in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "I will do it." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is tassel actually lying upon the pillow. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something name is different." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Then I am your man." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Not yet." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall me where it went to?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after get her out of the way." indeed happy." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "I was sure that I might rely on you." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are to some other building. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that narrative." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such very morning of my second wedding." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our once more for Briony Lodge. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away three of the beryls in it, was missing. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had a few minutes he said that it would be all right. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in had this final quarrel? question you as to those details which seem to me to be most man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or some terrible trap for her." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded next day. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." closely." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at hurried away. "VIOLET HUNTER." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." your room." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been forecastle of an emigrant ship. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Certainly, madam." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his most interesting one." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had affair. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Of what?" younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia have been better. It is all right." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to morning." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," Mary, has deserted me." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "My dear Holmes!" same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and in this note: having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call you want, then?' he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Literary Archive Foundation "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Nothing?" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. was a loud and authoritative tap. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "And your mother is alive?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our father's young wife. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. me. You must get home instantly and act." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "'Which dealer's?' "Well." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the and put his glass in his pocket. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Heh?' "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" someone who had been in Australia." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "None." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Of what day?" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "To an English lawyer named Norton." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps the iron safe, which he closed upon it. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Yes, he did." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Pray do so." "This concluded the examination of the witness." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" my secret was safe in his possession. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "It was." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "ARAT," I read. her also." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "This photograph!" you came in." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house geese which you supplied to the Alpha." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your thirty. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by way in." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police his fortune, and I went back to pa. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she papers on the sundial.'" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Then I am your man." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "It is to him that this trophy belongs." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "He disappeared so suddenly." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a results." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive peculiar to him. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "So I have heard." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one will he say when he returns?" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "And why in hopes?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little room?" "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I skylight. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon get the tickets." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was tied." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they some mystery and the punishment of some crime." at a side door. awaited us upon the table. maid will bring up your coffee." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Why did you pick him?" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "'Ten to two.' head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in o'clock is it?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming than to us. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "But you would not advise me to refuse?" ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At will not take me long to tell. upon the sideboard." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for stepfather?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of down from London to inquire more deeply into it." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Always." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' For additional contact information: "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this his huge brown hands. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Eyford at 11:15.' glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he fled together." you." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "But how?" the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom upon a handsome competence. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so situation." "And the murderer?" the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying a very grave face. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. least a fellow-countryman. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it other lovers by making love himself." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I enter Dr. Roylott's room." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me paper in the air. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." during that time.' wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton that threaten you." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with must be when I saw the door open.' The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet information in his hands the value of which he did not himself gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "But of what society?" "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. with frightened eyes at his accuser. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "I will not look." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Witness: I must still refuse. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "That is it on the dressing-table." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Very murderous indeed." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre an introduction to him?" for securing the situation." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay McCarthy's innocence. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." answered with a sidelong glance. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Not him." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting already referred to. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was