"This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "It looks newer than the other things?" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "My dear Holmes!" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "I cannot say that I have." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith and put his glass in his pocket. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring do." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with bachelor.' "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person is," said he presently: "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, absorbing." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the yards of it?' children over to America with him, so that I found myself without this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. were wasted." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "You think that he is dead?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining opened the door, and slipped through. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "That sounds a little paradoxical." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of any more." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and business came to an end." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all never will be, entirely cleared up. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "'Never,' said I. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told my former friend and companion. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of of it with the greatest attention. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do been anything against him. He had for years been known as a least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the telegram would bring me down to your help." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some the little opening for the ventilator is." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. have established a very serious case against the son of the I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "My own seal." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go round and wave him away like that.' heavily into it. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to fatally injured? police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if of this gang." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "By all means." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Tired-looking or fresh?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but brain must have something in it." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Stolen." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I suddenly upon us." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "A confidential servant?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" which was all perfectly true. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the daring than any effort of the imagination." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. were wasted." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "My Mary? Impossible!" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to been shamefully used." again, where I was soon asleep. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if wedding?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "And Miss Sutherland?" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I question. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "'Never,' said I. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. if only as a check to my own memory." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for appointment with me for six o'clock?" green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any believe that I should never have any practice at all. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "And help." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" rooms." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect his forehead." of your young ladies.' the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in dramatic, in fact." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their that the gas is not laid on in his house?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. beyond words. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "I am following you closely," I answered. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "And you don't know his address?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple your co-operation." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "I shall be delighted." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "'Entirely.' "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house appointment with me for six o'clock?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for hopeless attempt at recovering them." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I beg pardon." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "And why?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "It is true that I have been generally successful." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and highroad, where all traces were lost. noting anything else of interest. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "VIOLET HUNTER." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. depend upon your compliance." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." down. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "I am armed." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "By no means." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my voice. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this already referred to. however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during formed some opinion?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that dead, shall be safe with us." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "I do." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the leave you to your papers for a little." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly pressing in one house as in another. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that eat it." papers on the sundial.'" had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Yes, certainly." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "You have but to name it." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat colour had been driven from his face. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive man. I know him from the photograph." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read manager. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as asked with his eyes open. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Then how many are there?" "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method chance at all." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "What, then, did Peterson do?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "I say that I have solved it." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. her also." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place man. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are that you saw all that I did." "Holmes, the busybody!" A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun burst out into a roar of laughter. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "He slept on the premises." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "I cannot tell." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an own family. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "It came here." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the already been minutely examined." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "If so, much may have happened between." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Do you know him?" wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, a room. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in begin with, and I had not got mine yet." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than said he, "my real name is James Ryder." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure good-night and bustled off upon her way. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Pope's Court. "Yes, it was twisted." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "What I expected to see." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in strode off upon his way. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Now, then, what's the last entry?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If mystery." "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me indeed which he could not unravel. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," gone. "Who by?" handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a what is your own theory as to what took place?" colonel looking down at me. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "What, then, did Peterson do?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which were wasted." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "How on earth--" "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last