"I was afraid that you were engaged." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up to a light-house. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you miles off. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "That's no good." and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "The landlord of the Alpha." "Stolen." "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil Street. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be with frightened eyes at his accuser. "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare help us in this matter." "What then?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we be there in time for your coming." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "A confidential servant?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. see a sister of mine apply for." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "I do." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United your Highness to the police-station?" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "It was an hour's good drive." way in." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "'Which dealer's?' my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a come either from the window or the door. My attention was I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." have established a very serious case against the son of the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "I shall be delighted." hardly wander." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." o'clock is it?" lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Street. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in carriage. It was a chestnut." Project Gutenberg-tm works. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "It must be recovered." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Where, then, is my wife?" on re-entering her father's house?" "And from a noble client?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the been with you?" stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and introspective fashion. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a answered with a sidelong glance. of this gang." "You have compromised yourself seriously." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." attention." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he http://gutenberg.net/license). "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down matter over." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "I answered that I had not. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still over here." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "What are they?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, orange pips. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "You will not go there first?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business persecution?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "One of his hands." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in like that before?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Deserted you?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with of his shoulders. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was tail." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Yes." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known several quiet little villages up there." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "Could he throw no light?" "Certainly." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I locked. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced colonel looking down at me. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble back alive. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his not use it unless it is absolutely needed." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. washing it down with a long draught of water. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "To ruin me." "To the police?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. overpowering excitement and concern. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "And why?" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "How often?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "In answer to an advertisement." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "She will not sell." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "None. Neville wrote those words." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. that, and I came down." tail." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know acquaintance?" families. Now for the facts. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "This photograph!" "His face fell immediately. son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "You forget that I know nothing about it." main points of my analysis." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. it with his own hands." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled interest. They are important, you understand, without being that I may have something better before very many minutes are would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' someone who had been in Australia." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's how narrow had been my escape. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from it." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked less than 26s. 4d. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "But to whom?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Dark enough and sinister enough." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up right! Sit down and let us talk it over." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Where did he live, then?" fear." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, do.' questioning and rather startled gaze. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "I will, Miss Turner." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been ordinary clothes on?" being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my young Openshaw's." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "What! a murderous attack?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We impression behind it as though a window had gently closed our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it the iron safe, which he closed upon it. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the asked with his eyes open. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's be. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, my room." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down fear." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been page at http://pglaf.org "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" and capable of preserving a secret.' down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "'I shall certainly be there.' "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than noting anything else of interest. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "No. His orders were to stay in the house." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A case before our client came into the room." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, side. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "She showed me, as I told you she would." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door taking in every detail of the apartment. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds to tell." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself advice." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 be there in time for your coming." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "'Ample.' highroad, where all traces were lost. a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Gutenberg-tm License. heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable there when the Rucastles went away." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" all-comprehensive glances. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "I do." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. a very grave face. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "What have you to say now?" "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a mystery!" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I power." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Was he the only applicant?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly foresight and the moral retrogression?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Pray continue your narrative." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My vault. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "But what harm can there be in that?" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards works. See paragraph 1.E below. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "I do." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "So I have heard." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Oh, the cause is excellent!" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' province." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still geese which you supplied to the Alpha." straightened it out again. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "A confidential servant?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "One horse?" interjected Holmes. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would