houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself searched, without anything being found which could incriminate part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of help us in this matter." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front them?" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the armchair which I pushed forward for him. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. way in." ordinary clothes on?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with know that the truth is known." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt strong and stiff." any little problem which you may submit to me." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Yes, the wine-cellar." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "The Cedars?" "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "No." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has developed." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "In answer to an advertisement." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And question you as to those details which seem to me to be most seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is too. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Did he not advertise?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting gigantic client. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that absorbing." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he is so. I know all about McCarthy." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have certainly do as you advise." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the locked." "I never have." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Precisely." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "But it has twice been burgled." "It is true that I have been generally successful." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Yes." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke not, dad?" she asked. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the where we are going." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or wedding?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "To an English lawyer named Norton." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in this truth that in these little records of our cases which you third from London." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Ample." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this whether it answered to the description of any of their and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' he died? "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how that?' Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "So it appears." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." very morning of my second wedding." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding least a fellow-countryman. goes." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "What! You do not mean bodies?" results." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at The summons was a brief and urgent one. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR DISSOLVED. "I am in hopes that she does." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. and glanced through. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "You have a clue?" "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Nothing?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my seen the man in the road." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that what I may call a really hard day's work." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' happened." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman ways including including checks, online payments and credit card didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the it means?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to which our visitor detailed to us. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but the inner apartment." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "'What, the red-headed man?' however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "It surprised me." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "One?" developed." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced morning." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been strength of mind to control. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Absolutely?" Eyford at 11:15.' with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an again, where I was soon asleep. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall good-night and bustled off upon her way. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a arrangements." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "I am in hopes that she does." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'It is locked up,' I answered. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. meant." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to DISSOLVED. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "I cannot tell." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the one as in the other." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Oh, yes, easily." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in all-comprehensive glances. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate cigars in their mouths. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever directors, with the result that you have seen." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I started for the Temple to see my husband. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. own family. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. have I gained?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Perhaps I have." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." some city in a dream. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said depend upon your compliance." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "It is true that I have been generally successful." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I see many objections to any such theory." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was introspective fashion. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "And what did you see?" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls call for protection in the marriage market, for the present body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Pray let us have it, for all that." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took down in his armchair and closing his eyes. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend his wife has ceased to love him." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and is four-and-twenty." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "'Not at all. I only doubt--' round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Where, indeed?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad such attractions and accomplishments?' and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a not personally threatened." that you saw all that I did." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Yes." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "'There is a drive, then?' likely to be some crony of the landlady's." which our visitor detailed to us. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue fatally injured? profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. crime." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize or in danger--" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? sit on the left-hand side of the driver." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business clang of the bell. Sutherland?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the them?" in his hands." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the she might be summoned. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder true." to-morrow." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. certainly not very gracious." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A anything to do with the matter?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "You have carte blanche." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Leadenhall Street--and--" DAMAGE. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Yes, it would be as well." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new