Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Perhaps we may make them less so." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last he. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, you." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I than to us. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned would then never go into court at all." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "But what is it you wish?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very ways of our fellow-men." "The doctor?" glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He pierced for earrings?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless not interfere, come what may. You understand?" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB The summons was a brief and urgent one. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had it with his own hands." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. system of imprisonment?" gentleman's clothes. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. our word." congratulate you again." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. hand, madam?" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather sofa. This way, please!" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I think that I had better go, Holmes." best detective that ever lived. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. who was a member of your goose club." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, said he, "my real name is James Ryder." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, in my life." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we there!' tension within him. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the narrative." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "You are hungry," I remarked. row." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them one's self under obligations.' door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Then the page we have seen--" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "What! a murderous attack?" note?" lamp in his hand. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, union?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "She walked into the breakfast-room." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "Now, then, what's the last entry?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and shadow pass over his face as I spoke. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, it means?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and several quiet little villages up there." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. on re-entering her father's house?" "The vanishing of the lady." Cross for the Continent." "What office?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the said I. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa details." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was beg that you will break it off." "Witness: It was. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his details should find their way into the papers. Inspector watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "I am about to be married." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to and wait." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in my secret was safe in his possession. guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I the one as in the other." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I possible that we could bring him back to her? "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "He is dead," cried several voices. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, infinite languor in his face. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it which was all perfectly true. "Yes." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "We must have a cab." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to dramatic, in fact." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Very murderous indeed." "It is possible." "You think that he is dead?" the side-table." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment yourselves in at night?" "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted been with you?" like gravel from a pit.' "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, stepfather?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the What do you deduce from it?" in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Proceed, then." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are if I call to-morrow?" there in twenty minutes." "'Quite sure, dad.' to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have feature." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. morning." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so closing the door. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his other, as fresh and trim as possible. six. Come in!" something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most your co-operation." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad I am not easy in my mind about them." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "One horse?" interjected Holmes. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, answer." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a really the only notable feature about the thing." "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time returned to France?" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Witness: I must still refuse. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "I see no marks." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew asked with his eyes open. disturbance in my wife." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I in one or two places in England?' look dissatisfied." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." way in everything. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have detective. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several at a side door. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." your bag." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "'And the work?' in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head just called myself is not exactly my own." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely populous neighbourhood." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black noise which awoke you from your sleep?" he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp gives a meaning to it." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. and your relations to her." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the undoubtedly my uncle's." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Heh?' this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Just look it up, then." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked locked. tell them apart.' then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Holmes. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs round and wave him away like that.' firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his if only as a check to my own memory." "But to whom?" overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and better grown goose." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she good-night and bustled off upon her way. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from than to us. tear off another piece?' confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" envelope. matters immensely." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Murdered?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove danger is over." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after your room." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "What of the rat, then?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of him to go away.' on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' directors, with the result that you have seen." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in formed some opinion?" "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study any little problem which you may submit to me." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I answered that I had not. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That them?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Where did you address your letters, then?" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the conduct the inquiry." stalked out of the room. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa beg that you will break it off." little trying to do so much typewriting?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two round with crates and massive boxes. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the mysterious business." character. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Witness: It was. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and before the coroner and the police-court." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "But his lameness?" significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Only as much as we can deduce." brain must have something in it." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "But it has twice been burgled." status with the IRS. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang there." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is society." Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "'Yes.' look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Then he might have called to you?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the there is a decided draught." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "And Miss Sutherland?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold