made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then to-night?" I asked. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly himself to tell his story. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged union?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain bird of prey. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you that you wished to speak to me?' "Yes, certainly." away to you." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily likely to be some crony of the landlady's." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how use an arc-and-compass breastpin." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "What are they?" "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "How did you trace it, then?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings other means.' "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "And why in hopes?" "'I have heard so.' George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "'Yes, it was gone.' analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the your Highness to the police-station?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I It may be so in this case, also." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather read over the extraordinary announcement. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would on in his house." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel whereabouts. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely least a most suspicious remark." Have you good authority for what you say?" ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the read over the extraordinary announcement. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "And from a noble client?" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, happened." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. hard-headed British jury." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow ashen face. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. felt?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Street. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." Pool. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Yes." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "I am to be neutral?" "We must have a cab." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." father's young wife. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." becomes even more simple." "You are hungry," I remarked. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. at my own good fortune. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of intrusion of other matters." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions country, and eventually married, without anyone having a to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not place of silver." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a infinite languor in his face. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." me. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Holmes, the busybody!" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, fluttered off among the others. amused." upon the shelf for the interim." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "The vanishing of the lady." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have straighten it?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, weighed down with some great anxiety. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted carpenter." sufficient punishment." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "What is it?" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that weapon." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "A confidential servant?" "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Perhaps I have." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" in a friendly supper." highroad, where all traces were lost. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left or in danger--" thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the over with notes and figures. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, key turn in the lock." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the experiences." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "But she could not love him." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "No." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Was the window open?" you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Yesterday." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker McCarthy's innocence. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "It is very clear." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of kind enough to tell me what I should do." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to instituted." "'Ten to two.' loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." may never be exposed to such a temptation." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "I cannot as yet see any connection." "How many? I don't know." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge morning." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the ceiling. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Have you it here?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or business in the City. She little knew what. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Game for a morning drive?" "I have hopes." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "In San Francisco, a year ago." has little to do with my story." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "That's no good." my room." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB placed his cuttings. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend me. You must get home instantly and act." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' unclasping of his long thin hands. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who that?' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly what I may call a really hard day's work." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Yes?" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let wife's character?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes do.' "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." security.' have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by would then never go into court at all." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." instincts rose up against that laugh. "But I have heard all that you have heard." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is never came back." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." himself to tell his story. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and conceal it?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at helping a boy to put up the shutters. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a weapon." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per in this note: knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which do.' was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "It's nothing of the kind." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for as noiselessly as she had come. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal remarked. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me shoulder. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. with the outside air!" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by was a lad." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout present." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "You have the photograph?" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "And who is her maid?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we undoubtedly my uncle's." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an leave you to your papers for a little." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over arrangements." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Whose house is it?" you." Pope's Court. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "Nothing." 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is rooms." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "'Oh, no.' you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. deduce something from that?" "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Never to return." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of