confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, tear off another piece?' them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of unprecedented a position." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "Where, indeed?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "But who is he?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That something of him before." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Countess of Morcar's?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, grasp, he hurried from the room. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms what these perils are?" of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say leaning back in his chair. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Yes, I have one waiting." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, is," said he presently: the very morning of the wedding." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as pressing in one house as in another. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your of." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old wall." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is the bottom.' copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "Certainly, madam." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the very old mansion. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without not, dad?" she asked. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" nights." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, appeal." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "'I shall certainly be there.' Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the interests were the same as his." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the matter." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the instincts rose up against that laugh. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything she to prove their authenticity?" gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too is a common subject for conversation. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been hands. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more touch that coronet?' "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have with frightened eyes at his accuser. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise nonsense.' "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "'As governess?' grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, of the one which your family is now devouring." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "On your arm?" full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Yes, I have one waiting." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these interested in these little problems, and since you are good trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." until night should bring an explanation. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "What are they?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Yes." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our there!' form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack whole matter to your consideration." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back would apply.' "We have tried and failed." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Will you bet, then?" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Did you become engaged then?" Heh?' conceal it?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the official police." drawing your inferences." call it cruel." "Yes, it would be as well." and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of disappearance of these gems?" trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very geese which you supplied to the Alpha." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears away in different directions, and I went off to make my own prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "In heaven's name, what for?" this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "It is his hat." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I Count Von Kramm." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these eat it." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and the coronet in his hand?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered down. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the any more." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of father's place of business?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce Leadenhall Street--and--" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Have you good authority for what you say?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the you." The summons was a brief and urgent one. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "But how?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the III. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it will not take me long to tell. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "No more words. Get out!" down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "None." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution children over to America with him, so that I found myself without should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "When did she vanish, then?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "This photograph!" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "What! a murderous attack?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" I leave." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Foundation who was a member of your goose club." morning." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Here?" teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a depend upon my doing so.' "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were you, my dear young lady?' first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture there were so many in the whole country as were brought together of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" back to my heart. 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Then I shall certainly come." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "You think so, too?" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent green of the new foliage. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Yes." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well noise which awoke you from your sleep?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. carried out of court." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank from you?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "I promise," said Holmes. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "The landlord of the Alpha." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." best detective that ever lived. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a been shamefully used." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in sound at heart." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an forecastle of an emigrant ship. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a to-morrow." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she any more." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "He said too much." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "The doctor?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual money should be paid at once.' commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall seven miles from Eyford Station.' confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "But he might be a bachelor." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated is entirely a question of barometric pressure." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Farm upon the left." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what presented which may be striking and bizarre without being labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. row." "Yes." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "'How far from the body?' scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "And Irene Adler?" "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Then I shall certainly come." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "No legal papers or certificates?" the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Street. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. prison!" of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "The King of Scandinavia." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Why serious?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "And why?" "Certainly." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' flock.' "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the to have that photograph." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I allusion to a rat. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to guilty one." "But how?" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Of Friday, June 19th." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless