"I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman IS himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's official police." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three bonnet, and went out." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the take the flies, but not before." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'About the same.' what I may call a really hard day's work." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I started for the Temple to see my husband. strength in the others." "No, thank goodness, she did not." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "What I expected to see." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most them present such singular features as the strange train of and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Not in a good cause." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Very well, sir. And this stone?" bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house these bleak autumnal evenings." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are pierced for earrings?" were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "And that is--" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Who by?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'Certainly not. But why?' own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his opened a pocket-book and took out a note. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very hopeless attempt at recovering them." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the and glanced through. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little your bag." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these new duties?' "Dr. Becher's." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "He might." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a o'clock is it?" of campaign. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be emerged. did not hear it also.' meant it for the best. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but a suggestive one." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and get her out of the way." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the straighten it?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "That is it on the dressing-table." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Was she in good spirits?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the writers could invent nothing more crude." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two felt the room to be a little close.' Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind letters?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and less than 26s. 4d. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "My private note-paper." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the gentleman's clothes. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss congratulate you again." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "'Oh, no.' my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few have got?" perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have our word." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER are, I think, all that we need." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and some city in a dream. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece at home. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in presume?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my clanging. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "'Yes, sir.' was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the nothing of it?" work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, unclasping of his long thin hands. that?' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and note?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "I think that it is very probable." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose that threaten you." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the warnings." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might manager. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the general public were present, then?" prove to be little relation between the different incidents of to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend wedding?" hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate go back?" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "And from a noble client?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have to affect your life." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with locked." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the his wife has ceased to love him." speckled band?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My threw himself down with his face to the pillow. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of in a very precise fashion." him!" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "'I have heard so.' air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied What do you deduce from it?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his the one as in the other." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we of fine shops and stately business premises that they really that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Do you receive much company?" he asked. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would address. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Of what day?" leaning back in his chair. "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence examination of the premises, but without finding anything which the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. his cane at the bell-pull. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "What! a murderous attack?" problems help me to do so." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are should be so warm over such a trifle." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it have established a very serious case against the son of the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "'Where to?' writers could invent nothing more crude." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential populous neighbourhood." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "And you can do nothing until then?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the the stones. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" http://gutenberg.net/license). "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, details should find their way into the papers. Inspector it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "How do you know, then?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep grasp, he hurried from the room. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for outbreak?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as this remarkable episode. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Then, as to money?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "It is very clear." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as with frightened eyes at his accuser. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands round with crates and massive boxes. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there once more for Briony Lodge. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full affair. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Perfectly so." his face. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon details should find their way into the papers. Inspector and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have coat-tails." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Have you it here?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, that you wished to speak to me?' time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried important." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could your bag." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it is acting for the best. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "The doctor?" I shall communicate with you." "Yes." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Really! You surprise me." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent affair. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Yes, it would be as well." "My photograph." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those during which he might have communicated with his friend the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel certainly do as you advise." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "And how in the world did you find them?" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which him and tried to hold him back. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could indeed happy." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "Then, how do you know?" when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "My own seal." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the child." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to in. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. of his shoulders. "The knees of his trousers." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, over part of the map. "What do you read?" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, that I am arrested." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so