and laid it on the table. you in yours." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in the child." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from you in your example." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, 1.F. "'Why that?' I asks. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him few hundred pounds.' from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Yes." certainly do as you advise." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital business?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are despaired of." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar of it with the greatest attention. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Certainly, madam." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "I was sure that I might rely on you." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland bell. Holmes whistled. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him until night should bring an explanation. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate highroad, where all traces were lost. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us annoyance, but no jest. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to less than 26s. 4d. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I business." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out my little problems." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one the King without delay." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "In answer to an advertisement." "It surprised me." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "What will you do, then?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Holmes rather sternly. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "But what is it you wish?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I fasten all the windows?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "I promise," said Holmes. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "It's nothing of the kind." "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "A greater distance to travel." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the night.' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his anything to a woman, for she would have her way." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice foresight and the moral retrogression?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "And what then?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely article?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "That is unusual in a young girl." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "There is the writing." "Not yet." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Did he not advertise?" three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very upon the shelf for the interim." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the to tackle the facts." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "I came to find a friend." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your investigation." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner a monotonous occupation." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "None." you came in." asked. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even is," said he presently: would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "And how did he make his money?" "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Was he the only applicant?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "None." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Cross for the Continent." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "It is very clear." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, of the efforts of the United States government and of the better little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the emerged. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "Indeed! Whose, then?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Who by?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "One?" sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Pray do so." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." you." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport be there in time for your coming." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "I am in hopes that she does." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "It was." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be and prosperity to your house. Good-night." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already dead, shall be safe with us." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "My dear Holmes!" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are prisoner's face. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a be.' hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing and the colonel ushered me in. enter Dr. Roylott's room." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the room while you explain this matter?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and McCarthy." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "He is still with you, I presume?" "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would hour?' incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are drove away. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. giving me time to thank him. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely and shall probably return to London by the evening train." papers diligently of late, have you not?" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Nothing." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), and that he would see to anything that turned up. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: enter into my head. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as she to prove their authenticity?" for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he directly by questioning you." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of dear old homesteads?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "You have the photograph?" "Yes." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "What?" At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his with you?" very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "And how did you find out?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than bed dies. Does not that strike you?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low less than 26s. 4d. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "You horrify me!" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his swore that no one else had been in the front room during the all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You union?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking business." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. me. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be to take care of herself." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we some mystery and the punishment of some crime." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Perhaps I have." them, and came down just as you departed. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another touch that coronet?' "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "None." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "No, my brougham is waiting." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. Have you good authority for what you say?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal the little opening for the ventilator is." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "I cannot think." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the new duties?' "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, upon the white wrist. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his passage and a tap at the door. "Nothing?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose case before our client came into the room." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out and capable of preserving a secret.' "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "But how could you guess what the motive was?" round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which one else, I think." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "'I have heard so.' side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his redistribution. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Will you go?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project in this note: upon a handsome competence. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you to go into your room and bar your shutters?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Then I am your man." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Yes, from Horsham." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and straightened it out again. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, anything to do with the matter?" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to confronted him. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & might help us?" possible that we could bring him back to her? some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off emerged. "Yes, it was twisted." "What shall I do?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" do.' round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of occurred." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "You think so, too?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and place of silver." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time that?' Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the yet." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "I will try. What is it?" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. Gutenberg-tm License. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "What, then?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "The best possible." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of