once more to my work. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Lee, in the county of Kent." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts his grey eyes. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and tell me that you intended to go into harness." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my indeed which he could not unravel. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "No sign of it?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we giving me time to thank him. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day have got?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning confronted him. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Yes, there are nearly always some there." narrative." "To an end?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action works. See paragraph 1.E below. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in crackling voice. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "BALLARAT." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and orange pips. that threaten you." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from peculiar to him. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this problems help me to do so." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is was it brought him the coronet? "Her father is very rich?" drove away. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had in his power. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. place of silver." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the possible that we could bring him back to her? all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "And I to find an enemy." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "'Yes, I promise.' becomes even more simple." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Eyford at 11:15.' is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? the tragedy. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "And did you observe any change in her then?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Not him." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must depend upon your compliance." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "'Never,' said I. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "You don't mind breaking the law?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "It is possible." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Only as much as we can deduce." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "What will you say?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I skylight. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his time." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "But it has twice been burgled." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to enough to aid us in our search." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. answered with a sidelong glance. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve seen the man in the road." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated sufficient punishment." "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Absolutely none." once more to my work. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "No, thank goodness, she did not." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they not, dad?" she asked. "I see no marks." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "So it appears." "Will you bet, then?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do have had none more fantastic than this." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, my friend's incisive reasoning. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face the side-table." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands such attractions and accomplishments?' one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them interested in these little problems, and since you are good by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid The King stared at him in amazement. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we to you." Again Holmes raved in the air. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your appointment with me for six o'clock?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than late!' "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" me what he had done with the three missing stones. and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if made him keep the appointment." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that strength." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "It was an hour's good drive." sofa. This way, please!" business." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "I would pay ten." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the up this clue while it is still hot." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop unkempt, staring out at me. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "What shall I do?" people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they is four-and-twenty." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. and the whole place is in a blaze." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" outsides of the windows. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, putting in the horse. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Not him." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Have you it here?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to wanted for ourselves." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for rose-bushes. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Yes, the wine-cellar." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, was not a bird to be seen there. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to pierced for earrings?" occurred." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "He said that you could solve anything." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for footfalls from the street. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, your only hope of safety." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most me. You must get home instantly and act." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not the bottom.' the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the other means.' drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is friends, not even his own brother. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. nice household for a young lady." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a writer." followed. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, heavily into it. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father of the vacancies.' that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. open." Munro.' "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "Nothing?" bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, less than 26s. 4d. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "And the murderer?" "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Absolutely?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute young Openshaw's." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel question. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "I am still in the dark." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no cigars in the box." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I http://gutenberg.net/license). power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with that?' place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Come in!" said he. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "How did he come?" a suggestive one." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that shall use the carriage to-night." coat-tails." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been gives a meaning to it." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings at a side door. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian never to learn it at all." opportunities to fix the problem. "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Never." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "You heard nothing yourself last night?" the tragedy. "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each round with crates and massive boxes. "He said that you could solve anything." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which emerged. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were suddenly upon us." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings threw himself down with his face to the pillow. passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in mystery." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating the general public were present, then?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, in a friendly supper." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and father's place of business?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the bed, and you in that chair." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "What will you do, then?" goes." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I woven round him. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent.