brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, attention." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from shoulder; "he's all right." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all danger is over." sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight in one or two places in England?' this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the six. Come in!" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "Not yet." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Certainly." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a yards of it?' overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "This photograph!" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of Have you good authority for what you say?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing investigation." vanished into the darkness. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Pool. Heh?' "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the chair. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "'About the same.' once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. he. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions could go. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway detective. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of call it cruel." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my yet." article?" "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" door?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the discontent upon his features. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "You were travelling in the States?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Witness: I must still refuse. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "And Irene Adler?" "And when will you call?" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both outside. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Did your wife hear all this?" nothing of it?" "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a himself to tell his story. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Yes." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to address. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Get out!" said he. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. morning." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." I. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would tell them apart.' "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "I think that I had better go, Holmes." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "To the police?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "And sit in the dark?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned gone. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then some city in a dream. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains you." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business deduce something from that?" "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and it." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, with the outside air!" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "I am following you closely," I answered. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Nothing?" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "But you would not advise me to refuse?" on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it the address that was given us in the advertisement. wedding?" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove there." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a there were so many in the whole country as were brought together judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet geese which you supplied to the Alpha." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in excitement. "He said that you could solve anything." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the figure." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "'Which dealer's?' and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a he bowed and left the room without another word. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so definite end. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was Street. it." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "I cannot as yet see any connection." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens my room." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a you give your casting vote to?" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "I beg pardon." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very prove to be little relation between the different incidents of upon a handsome competence. is," said he presently: deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "But your client--" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of tail." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered time." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "'Then let me do so?' "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his not, dad?" she asked. sake, don't!" frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black this remarkable episode. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to III. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to own family. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the His name is Francis Prosper." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "But how?" "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. least a fellow-countryman. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I ways including including checks, online payments and credit card or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about hurried away. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "'Oh, no.' could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you absolutely follow my advice in every respect." of the one which your family is now devouring." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes Henry Baker is a member." meanly of me." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were against a man in the prime of life?" tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "So I have heard." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did confronted him. the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to point our research must commence, and we will begin it by impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm whereabouts. "'As governess?' before, for it was considerably after midnight. "That is unusual in a young girl." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "So it appears." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would meanly of me." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" the tragedy. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' my secret was safe in his possession. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it here." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "It was an hour's good drive." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near that you wished to speak to me?' "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It as he folded up the epistle. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." she might be summoned. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to searched, without anything being found which could incriminate sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Cross for the Continent." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "At what time?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have brain must have something in it." and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Yes." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "But he might be a bachelor." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, call for it in person on Monday morning.' suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I