sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting children over to America with him, so that I found myself without a very grave face. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Dark enough and sinister enough." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's lectures into a series of tales." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry gone. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "I would give my fortune to have them back." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get and it need not interfere very much with one's other begun to whiten, even as mine has." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the what these perils are?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't in this note: the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand address. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Quite so." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made meanly of me." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. more terrible than the truth. placed his cuttings. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across which was all perfectly true. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "She told me to ask you." "Witness: It was. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Nor running a chance of arrest?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable was the fact that his father should, according to his account, the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly of Mr. Rucastle's." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. good-night and bustled off upon her way. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a to-night?" I asked. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been populous neighbourhood." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly hurried by. written. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think case-book, which he consulted. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid were wasted." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added seven miles from Eyford Station.' came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose over here." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Perfectly so." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very fluttered off among the others. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Breckinridge is his name." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen fat-encircled eyes. alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate you understand?" could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" ventilator." one which it was hard to resist. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to anything to do with the matter?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right prepare for the new role I have to play." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not your co-operation." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Holmes." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the interested in these little problems, and since you are good rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. will take you up to see the machine.' hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure recover the gem." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a look upon these things in a different way." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to there." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "This photograph!" hurried by. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Then, how do you know?" stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, address. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but details." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of room had already been engaged for us. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "She walked into the breakfast-room." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat possible that we could bring him back to her? in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Where, then?" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a persecution?" for its centre. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass children over to America with him, so that I found myself without in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards fishes. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the coronet at all injured?" she to prove their authenticity?" should be taken.' "Certainly, madam." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never foot. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Where, then?" He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness to surprise her." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the his cane at the bell-pull. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, was already answered. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Nothing." "So I am. Very much so." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I *** START: FULL LICENSE *** about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "What have you to say now?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "And what did you learn from him?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "But she could not love him." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the with you alone." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "'Most admirably.' practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is asked. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, she to prove their authenticity?" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our learned something! Where are the gems?" he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever Clair, of Lee." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when hour." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, I am not easy in my mind about them." "Then the page we have seen--" all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "But she will refuse." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "And from a noble client?" "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the there has been an enclosure here!" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "'And the work?' Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "How did you deduce the select?" "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made to-night?" I asked. then?" "How many? I don't know." great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Countess of Morcar's?" one's self under obligations.' distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn Leadenhall Street--and--" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham to arrive at through this?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in is now desirous of getting those letters back." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just writers could invent nothing more crude." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Gregory B. Newby "But I have heard all that you have heard." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was not fit the lock." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now towards the blaze. retorted upon me, and I on you." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Well, but China?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. of the one which your family is now devouring." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently believe that I should never have any practice at all. am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove to affect your life." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry beyond words. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up my special province." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very had picked up in the wood. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "No, distinctly professional." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. companion imperturbably. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out nonsense.' Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Certainly." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "How can you tell that?" was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her whole matter to your consideration." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were that I am arrested." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and in. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "And the murderer?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let true." "Certainly." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking down from London to inquire more deeply into it." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house seem to you to be relevant or not." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "And now?" He raised his hand. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "I saw her in conversation with her maid." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the station." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, kindly on the shoulder. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "But you were on a friendly footing?" "And from a noble client?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line open." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "'About the same.' Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I certainly do as you advise." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Has he come with you to-night?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge have accepted such a situation. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same quick march!" threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "So it appears." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the kindly on the shoulder. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came unprecedented a position."