Project Gutenberg-tm works. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Imitated." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, have accepted such a situation. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Married! When?" good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made despair." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "'In my own bureau.' his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the me." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the out of this horrible affair." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey used to be." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt important." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "'Oh, no.' very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took had formerly been in part my own. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the child." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Nothing?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his habit of advancing money.' and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon galvanised. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this affair. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "'Which dealer's?' threw himself down with his face to the pillow. know all about it," he snarled. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "What then?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. certainly do as you advise." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very have accepted such a situation. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much test if we have an answer to our advertisement." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Chief Executive and Director her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right in the hope of finding them." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "'In my own bureau.' Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle second window is the one that I jumped from." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not at home. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Absolutely?" said he. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Young McCarthy must be got off, however." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Frequently." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "'Is purely nominal.' the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely their singular warning or token before them when starting upon and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He troubles have been weighing upon his mind. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, strode off upon his way. "Then I do not see the point." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. compunction about shooting them down." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To yards of it?' "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "That is not always so easy." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular is," said he presently: him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on a monotonous occupation." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I four million human beings all jostling each other within the answer." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Leadenhall Street--and--" placed his cuttings. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I bedroom door." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "If I can be of use." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "It must be recovered." strength in the others." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, stalked out of the room. occurred." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem bonnet, and went out." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she his face which made him a very different person to the round, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged soul! here is her carriage at the door." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet the side-table." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business these bleak autumnal evenings." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom the salesman. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the you understand?" adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' families. Now for the facts. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an if I call to-morrow?" I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Yes, only one." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great know all about it," he snarled. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily him, that man would not have given me such complete information definite end. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to place of silver." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." before the coroner and the police-court." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be fishes. "Stoke Moran?" said he. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "And you can do nothing until then?" up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore miles off. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from been able to understand it, in a very few words. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such locked." the tragedy. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian to take care of herself." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "I shall be delighted." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them pity, because in other respects you would really have done very neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "You think that he is dead?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. in the dead of the night?' hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." there in twenty minutes." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "By no means." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." sake, don't!" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "We must sit without light. He would see it through the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The least a fellow-countryman. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it that he will be back before evening." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation Holmes rather sternly. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, charged with?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in wedding?" "And what did you learn from him?" landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods correct than the official force." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and I was concerned in it." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was pound a week." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is and the church but not where the lady lived." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "And when will you call?" week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On see a sister of mine apply for." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of assist you in forming an opinion." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of felt?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the man. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "And how in the world did you find them?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly what is your own theory as to what took place?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted were new raised from a basin. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've the roots. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and the address that was given us in the advertisement. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Eh? What was that?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "Yes, it would be as well." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Was your sister dressed?" "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine I nodded to show that I had heard. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, disappearance of the bride.'" was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not in his hands." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." gone before you can get him to hospital." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "My last client of the sort was a king." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever Holmes' thin, eager face. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "I say it is." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at tell me that you intended to go into harness." Dr. Gregory B. Newby hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "My dear Holmes!" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler keep the flames under. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the the coronet in his hand?" the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "No. What a strange idea!" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless window when the police appeared." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, address. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "Nothing." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "There is the writing." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. cost them two and thirty pounds." which are rolled in Rotterdam." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE your billet.' halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "In what way?" asked Holmes. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if answered with a sidelong glance. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better success. public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it nonsense.' disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Heh?' mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "No, I had a dozen." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this asked with his eyes open.