work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon behind me. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he useful material for showing traces. The double line a little Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at mystery!" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "And what did you learn from him?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be of it with the greatest attention. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that read over the extraordinary announcement. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." appeared upon the scene." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my of the efforts of the United States government and of the better eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "And what then?" Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this there!' remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men good-night and bustled off upon her way. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. come either from the window or the door. My attention was you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a other lovers by making love himself." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very manager. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Leave Paddington by the 11:15." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "The Coroner: What do you mean? than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular help us in this matter." mysterious end." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the my friend's incisive reasoning. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Quite so." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. you." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to that I can to serve you." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, nonsense.' now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the fashion which was peculiar to him. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "It was an hour's good drive." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to if she died from some sudden fright." than to us. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "And who is her maid?" was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp The summons was a brief and urgent one. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with ourselves in the office." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of infinite languor in his face. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a London for the present?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right rose-bushes. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause ventilator." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. outbreak?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "I will get her to show me." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "What can you not understand?" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers awkward doing business with an alias." corner of the building. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire questionable one." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag girl said." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "But you can know nothing of this?" step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our you give your casting vote to?" disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be it right.' "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his out of this horrible affair." "But his lameness?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "But she will refuse." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "Precisely so. But how--" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she points in connection with it which never have been, and probably considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not the one as in the other." congratulate you again." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Yes, I have one waiting." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "What will you do, then?" happened." out of this horrible affair." "And how did he make his money?" in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It thin, with a long, sharp nose?" to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' unkempt, staring out at me. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "And how have you succeeded?" air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for your troubles." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached compunction about shooting them down." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Will you bet, then?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of upon an income of about 60 pounds." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Yes, the wine-cellar." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "No legal papers or certificates?" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who the coronet in his hand?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "We must have a cab." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Ah, but I was recommended to you." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." good for you to do.' pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the walking." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" be sorry for having acted so harshly." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, fashion which was peculiar to him. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Again Holmes raved in the air. "Yes, but only for you and me." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, awkward doing business with an alias." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "What! a murderous attack?" had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "No, I am descending." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Entirely." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "It is possible." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "You think that he is dead?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are friend's singular character. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This crowd. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "I think that it is very probable." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "It is true that I have been generally successful." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I garden below. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Ample." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the tragedy. "You think so, too?" there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and His smile broadened. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had and that he would see to anything that turned up. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining The note was undated, and without either signature or address. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was villagers almost as much as their master. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of tail." "'I am sure that I do not know.' form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Ten will be early enough." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small which it had come upon my father." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'You cannot say what it was?' "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me visitors." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the ceiling. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "No, I am descending." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "And it is--" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be and inquire as to the address." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'Where to?' places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a friend's singular character. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. were new raised from a basin. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be all-comprehensive glances. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular noise which awoke you from your sleep?" delirious. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he noble correspondent could be. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Then I am your man." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Will you go?" envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would suspect him." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" girl said." gone before you can get him to hospital." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a woven round him. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "And who is her maid?" she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "I should like to see him very much." tell him that I know him to be innocent." introspective fashion. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "No bad?" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on had formerly been in part my own. Chief Executive and Director way: villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "I fear not." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned behind me. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "It is very clear." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the man. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy sit on the left-hand side of the driver." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Deserted you?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "I assure you that I am in your hands." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "What are they?" "To ruin me." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after what I may call a really hard day's work." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Just look it up, then." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should tapping his fingers upon the table. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "In which, sir?" back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "And that is--" force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Always." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. fasten all the windows?" he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "No." overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" voice. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in results." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham words came to my lips. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "What shall I do?" our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid you understand?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the