no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "What can it mean?" I gasped. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in of." lamp. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter all?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a woman who has had her own way to make in the world. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Foundation for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing detained." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would since then to throw any light upon what became of him." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "In San Francisco, a year ago." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced just called myself is not exactly my own." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He closely." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative in the hope of finding them." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders have been better. It is all right." never to learn it at all." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations vault. "And now?" I asked. "Did he not advertise?" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "I should wish to." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark me what he had done with the three missing stones. this poor creature." had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest carried out of court." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate there was no need for father to know." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter chambers. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." III. "No sign of it?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she along the entire front of the house, with three long windows The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "In heaven's name, what for?" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, But Holmes shook his head gravely. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case the stones. "An accident, I presume?" present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand happened." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "An accident, I presume?" "Dr. Becher's." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and strong reason behind." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I even of instruction." outside. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Witness: Nothing definite. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my fled together." been with you?" and all of them with the keenest interest. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "If so, much may have happened between." him to be an active member of the medical profession." "And leave your case unfinished?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and delirious. "How did he come?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite is acting for the best. you, my dear young lady?' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical some terrible trap for her." your sleep?' strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his it. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but young Openshaw's." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was acted in my house last night?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in 'I should be able to look after that for you.' and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He appeal." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Then, how do you know?" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! morning." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always lids now and glanced across at his visitor. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Now, then, what's the last entry?" scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "How often?" that, and I came down." must compliment you." advice." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a http://gutenberg.net/license). black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it drawing your inferences." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Precisely." to-night." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Where, then?" is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "But your client--" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Upon what point?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I as this. Pray let me have the details." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "I am in hopes that she does." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than face and glided from the room. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a present." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "I will try. What is it?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own see a sister of mine apply for." go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "I was mad--insane." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Yes, only one." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Witness: I must still refuse. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "In what way?" asked Holmes. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' Dr. Gregory B. Newby over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the call you and give you the chance." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "And leave your case unfinished?" mystery may be cleared along those lines." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End crowd. "Yes, sir." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "If I can be of use." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises your troubles." congratulate you again." becomes even more simple." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we copied or distributed: a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, roused himself from his reverie. breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your article?" it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" ashen face. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" cigar and let me expound." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is his grey eyes. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Have you her photograph?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." writer." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works garden below. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you sofa. This way, please!" standing smiling on the door-step. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Where, indeed?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a to change my dress. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear sneer upon his pale face. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of so far?" The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment that I may have something better before very many minutes are very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "A greater distance to travel." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry tell them apart.' he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has quite distinctive." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "Frequently." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "What is it?" entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. guilty parties." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "'Not at all. I only doubt--' down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'Is purely nominal.' hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all your Highness to the police-station?" he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess matters immensely." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. before the coroner and the police-court." have established a very serious case against the son of the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and which we had just quitted. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, crowd. papers on the sundial.'" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera hand, madam?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "How about poison?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I will he say when he returns?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his touch that coronet?' "No, I had a dozen." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "The knees of his trousers." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "None. Neville wrote those words." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." said he at last. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and corner of the building. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged a very grave face. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Yes, that is the Crown." you, my dear young lady?' "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting him to go away.' the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle and looked back. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "My own seal." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "You will not go there first?" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it bonnet, and went out." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo