the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In arrested. You then--" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with recover the gem." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been forecastle of an emigrant ship. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "If so, much may have happened between." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Pray do so." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the room had already been engaged for us. works. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his upon an income of about 60 pounds." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It power." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "And why?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money not, dad?" she asked. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy again before evening." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a cost them two and thirty pounds." there was no need for father to know." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Have you her photograph?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little never came back." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who in the hope of finding them." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "I will try. What is it?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what attention." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Thank you. Pray proceed." Arthur Conan Doyle In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Pope's Court. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached most important business. It is probable that he will be away all strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense ceremony." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing used to be." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "It looks newer than the other things?" wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Not yet." so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either client, rising. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "'A dozen yards or so.' later, upon the night of May 2nd." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more me. You must get home instantly and act." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the bed, and you in that chair." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to there were one or two details which were new to me. But the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such should be so warm over such a trifle." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an case-book, which he consulted. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." photograph?" annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of head. So long, then!" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Not particularly." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. open." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening entirely devoid of interest." "I will do it." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "And did you observe any change in her then?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the you want, then?' know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul papers." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "But not more so than I to find you." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk if she died from some sudden fright." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, ceremony." "Do you know him?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads heavy and sharp instrument." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me with frightened eyes at his accuser. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. strength of mind to control. have established a very serious case against the son of the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only him." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, help us in this matter." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their Watson," he said cordially. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking had died away into the silence from which it rose. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." to a light-house. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make invisible to me," I remarked. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. over here." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety cup of tea. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, hour?' accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Yes?" "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing were wasted." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "What!" he roared. "No." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two woman." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Then, how do you know?" opportunities to fix the problem. "Then I shall certainly come." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed gone before you can get him to hospital." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency burst into a hearty fit of laughter. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk and that he would see to anything that turned up. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you weary and pale-looking. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its McCarthy's innocence. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything future lives." the driver. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Only as much as we can deduce." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a that you can jump it.' "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people stammered. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it depend upon my doing so.' propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "But we can't all be." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers death." "It looks newer than the other things?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after past. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole trying to your nerves." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "At half-wages, in fact." them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge I took the paper from him and read as follows: occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Yes, I have one waiting." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay individual and becomes the badge of a society." would apply.' "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the very morning of the wedding." him." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "How do you know, then?" as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real read over the extraordinary announcement. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank of the one which your family is now devouring." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, again on its way. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our manager. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "My dear Holmes!" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in gigantic client. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across second window is the one that I jumped from." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I again, where I was soon asleep. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his visitors." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any constraint." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "It is possible." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in were unconscious?" uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover there has been an enclosure here!" time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed closing the door. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my have had none more fantastic than this." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in approach us with offers to donate. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, delirious. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "'Is purely nominal.' feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "You were travelling in the States?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his his cane at the bell-pull. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "The best possible." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." it." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Pope's Court. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "A client, then?" "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" one else, I think." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he situation." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Precisely so. But how--" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed examine." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in redistribution. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" tapping his fingers upon the table. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "What then?" "It is no ordinary one." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "And what then?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do swore that no one else had been in the front room during the all?" through." to tackle the facts." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a