be. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. next day. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down imbecility!" he cried. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "And you can do nothing until then?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not death." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if ordinary clothes on?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the running down." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few national property. I was determined that the law should have its the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was fuss that is made over them." here and I will read it to you: will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had ran thus: pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if man. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and had this final quarrel? distance from the station, and there we found the young lady your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our developed." "She showed me, as I told you she would." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour derbies." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years was a perfect sample of the class. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "One?" o'clock is it?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "That is also quite modern," said the lady. like gravel from a pit.' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "In which, sir?" friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "There are none." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so front of me. "I think that it is very probable." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was correct than the official force." a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He be.' the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in address. eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival http://www.gutenberg.net guilty one." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Yes." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Pool. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's that you can jump it.' herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Surrey." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "He disappeared so suddenly." "Witness: I must still refuse. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Well, but China?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "An accident, I presume?" "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Where, then?" at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Which surely he restored to their owner?" offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and his huge brown hands. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. once more for Briony Lodge. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "'Yes, I promise.' situation." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." had died away into the silence from which it rose. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." presume?" pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could respectable self." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB narrative." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously instincts rose up against that laugh. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left populous neighbourhood." little adventures." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes was feeling which was the fattest.' but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we night.' said he. "There is the writing." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the of Fenchurch Street." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and out." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited as this. Pray let me have the details." "But the mystery?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "I am in hopes that she does." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive begin with, and I had not got mine yet." I shall communicate with you." "I guessed as much." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a paper in the air. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from three of the beryls in it, was missing. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "No bad?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography and have this put in the evening papers." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "My dear Holmes!" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." if she died from some sudden fright." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his chambers. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "And what then?" forecastle of an emigrant ship. "They are typewritten," I remarked. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" way in everything. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Seven!" I answered. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for call for it in person on Monday morning.' there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady chambers. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. fattened it expressly for you.' to tackle the facts." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To corner of the building. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Yes, the wine-cellar." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered trifles." thin legs towards the fire. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has you, my dear young lady?' The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "Nothing." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." it." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here the morning and make my own way in the world.' "But your client--" shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "You think that he is dead?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "The King of Scandinavia." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Dark enough and sinister enough." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Not yet." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Breckinridge is his name." you, my dear young lady?' "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I have solved it." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Dark enough and sinister enough." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "I should like to see him very much." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns strength of mind to control. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' prison!" not within a twentieth part of the market price." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "I was afraid that you were engaged." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he was already answered. "None." "My Mary? Impossible!" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "And you can do nothing until then?" do." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful your troubles." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is My friend smiled. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "I saw her in conversation with her maid." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Nothing." "'What then?' I asked. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. rose-bushes. "I answered that I had not. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "I would give my fortune to have them back." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "I beg pardon." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of interests were the same as his." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after horse could go." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better prison!" "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "'Entirely.' "My last client of the sort was a king." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in enter into my head. of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Is he quiet?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. posted to-day." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "What, then, did Peterson do?" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in ventilator." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Oh, yes, easily." Dr. Gregory B. Newby pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "But it has twice been burgled." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in will be renamed. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being closing the door. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding upon an income of about 60 pounds." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Leave Paddington by the 11:15." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide forehead. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Street. reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "I cannot say that I have." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "What is it?" at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it where Mr. Fordham shows you.' routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss habit of advancing money.' Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he gigantic client. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever not as remarkable as your advertisement." "He slept on the premises." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before him nearly every evening." was a lad." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like