least a most suspicious remark." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. with the outside air!" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was sufficient punishment." "Come in!" said Holmes. we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and himself to hunt down. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Did you become engaged then?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of behind me. one of the states of the Union." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some ordinary clothes on?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'A dozen yards or so.' been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. these bleak autumnal evenings." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the bearing upon the case." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from was once confined in the cab my mission was practically his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "I answered that I had not. "No." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master me." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging affection." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Was your sister dressed?" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "In San Francisco, a year ago." my secret was safe in his possession. have accepted such a situation. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'As governess?' the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was 11:15.' "Certainly." of campaign. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting ordinary clothes on?" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and again before evening." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Sutherland?" business in the City. She little knew what. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "What can you not understand?" details." is a common subject for conversation. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "'And what salary do you ask?' he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and not as remarkable as your advertisement." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. him to be an active member of the medical profession." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. which our visitor detailed to us. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all rat could hardly pass through." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "I will not look." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco once more on the important position which you have been fortunate been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "What do you make of that, Watson?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed For additional contact information: "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than written. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "What of the rat, then?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door excitement. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Nothing?" If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not instincts rose up against that laugh. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, I shall communicate with you." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and before, for it was considerably after midnight. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "You have compromised yourself seriously." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "And your mother is alive?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Can I be of assistance?" answer." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Quite so. She has her freedom." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "But the mystery?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl make me his representative both with the servants and with the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled out." "That also I could fathom." money should be paid at once.' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some promised to bring home. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "No, finished." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' he died? tension within him. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to brandy and water within his reach. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler guilty parties." cigar and let me expound." at home. persecution?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Nothing?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "How often?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few more solid." was not a bird to be seen there. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." it." "Yes." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "How often?" Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban chamber." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "Imitated." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, pressing in one house as in another. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she late." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. these bleak autumnal evenings." Count Von Kramm." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and hopeless attempt at recovering them." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Stolen, then." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "I am about to be married." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I am sure." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources case-book, which he consulted. I leave." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. everything which you would wish to know." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "'What would be the hours?' I asked. to his chemical studies. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. drawing your inferences." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving Mary, has deserted me." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Then he might have called to you?" single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "Then I shall certainly come." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, name is different." orange pips. to have been novel and of interest." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "So I have heard." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings away in different directions, and I went off to make my own prison!" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of The telegram which we eventually received came late one night have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Was she in good spirits?" With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Two days later this same performance was gone through under the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, fasten all the windows?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Ah, but I was recommended to you." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing young Openshaw's." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Ah!" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" his huge brown hands. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "There are none." daring than any effort of the imagination." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. would then never go into court at all." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I prison!" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Yes, sir." "Then I shall certainly come." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Yes, he did." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Get out!" said he. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest shall use the carriage to-night." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad them?" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." his cane at the bell-pull. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, garden below. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "She will not sell." your billet.' the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project papers." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the were wasted." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had strength of mind to control. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That true." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "It may not come to that," said Holmes. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. locked." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" lamp. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "'A dozen yards or so.' "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Nor running a chance of arrest?" central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, of Mr. Rucastle's." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Was the window open?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "You have a clue?" "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Game for a morning drive?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and behind me. desk. "I am about to be married." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to McCarthy." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted them present such singular features as the strange train of until night should bring an explanation. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid plantation.' smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "And why in hopes?" matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "'Never.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "I have a cab outside." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity his huge brown hands. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "What have you done?" asked Holmes. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "But you can know nothing of this?" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the