and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San in darkness. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea she might be summoned. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded man. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "So it appears." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you your own bird, so if you wish--" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some do.' the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." more solid." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "But of what society?" in darkness. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its to that open window." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "She walked into the breakfast-room." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "The landlord of the Alpha." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "It is solved." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, bled considerably." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting shall not find me ungrateful." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "And how in the world did you find them?" vault. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "That was it, sir." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "And why?" nice household for a young lady." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after certainly not very gracious." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any have got?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Where, then?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to I nodded to show that I had heard. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his think you a quite exceptional woman." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on there has been an enclosure here!" would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear note?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and of Mr. Rucastle's." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a prepare for the new role I have to play." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a help us in this matter." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his served to weaken the effect. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." these bleak autumnal evenings." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a second." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the highly," said Holmes. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or *** START: FULL LICENSE *** thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an habit of advancing money.' lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the driver. fashion which was peculiar to him. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "And how did you find out?" me have 200 pounds?' Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "'I have already given you my word.' is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'You doubt its value?' he asked. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very morning." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "No?" society." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Why did you pick him?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in returning from some small jollification and was making his way be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Do you know him?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Where, then, is my wife?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "But how did you gain them?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the must compliment you." his face. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him maiden herself was most instructive." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Look there!" said he. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom side. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "The rest you will leave in our hands." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be was lame." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended me. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in populous neighbourhood." Mrs. Toller serenely. "She showed me, as I told you she would." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the pound a week." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "I never have." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "On the contrary, this is the right side." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "It came here." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "I don't believe it." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and and the colonel ushered me in. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "My dear Holmes!" prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Yes, but only for you and me." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite the stable lane now." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and papers on the sundial.'" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "But you were on a friendly footing?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "And from a noble client?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is skylight. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of footfalls from the street. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Won't it ring?" "Why, what do you mean?" yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Where, indeed?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or 1.F. again before evening." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you not within a twentieth part of the market price." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. overpowering excitement and concern. unprofitable." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "The rest you will leave in our hands." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "And I." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you tear off another piece?' eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in hard-headed British jury." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing I leave." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "It is very kind of you." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "'I have already given you my word.' "Then, as to money?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and remarked. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a bird of prey. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Very truly yours, truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Yes, it was twisted." "Was your sister dressed?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of do you make of it all?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; again." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, presume?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the whether it answered to the description of any of their "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "But I am all in the dark." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were since then to throw any light upon what became of him." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to The note was undated, and without either signature or address. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the This is what he says: particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out present strange and interesting features that it is no easy suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Sutherland?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "ARAT," I read. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks call the police, let the police find what they can.' constraint." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "'Certainly not. But why?' bird I ate is country bred." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, tied." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort your own bird, so if you wish--" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told him nearly every evening." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a clang of the bell. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I business matters.' drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had enter Dr. Roylott's room." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing sneer upon his pale face. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the inner apartment." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with chance at all." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the of the one which your family is now devouring." "Pray let us have it, for all that." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it strength of mind to control. "'It is locked up,' I answered. 'please.'" crime. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for amused." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had said I. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his wedding?" gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Here?" handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very