"Thank you. And your address?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to handed it to him. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, rose-bushes. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "I was certainly surprised to find you there." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me have established a very serious case against the son of the had a long day." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he exactly what you advise." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Yes, sir." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "But his left-handedness." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." works. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. when your master had gone out." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there cause to be." I. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "You did not overhear what they said?" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "But you can know nothing of this?" "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. learned something! Where are the gems?" there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this bearing upon the case." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "You have carte blanche." My friend smiled. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed what is your own theory as to what took place?" said he at last. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered from the brougham. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with quickly through a disagreeable task. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "It is solved." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Who was the criminal, then?" last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "I have come for advice." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less discontent upon his features. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the warnings." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be happened." himself to tell his story. present." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' province." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the his knees, staring into the fire. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "And how did you verify them?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, as the one I chose?' manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Does that suggest anything?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "By no means." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "But not more so than I to find you." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent speckled band?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "But what harm can there be in that?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the goes." up this clue while it is still hot." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "What are they?" she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Yes." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "It must be recovered." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was you." his forehead." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "'There is a drive, then?' the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both mystery may be cleared along those lines." in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "What is it, then--a fire?" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off papers." butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered McCarthy's innocence. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as the one as in the other." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where detained." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Indeed! Whose, then?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out intrusion of other matters." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. did not hear it also.' the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "How long did she speak to this Alice?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I them present such singular features as the strange train of think that he is innocent?" "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining one else, I think." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" possible that we could bring him back to her? January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. goes." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "What then?" "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes affair. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near affection." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Then you may be so with me." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "What then?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "What, then, did Peterson do?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut goes." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that carriage. It was a chestnut." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "It is to him that this trophy belongs." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a figure." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of from the brougham. she might be summoned. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose about here speaks of his kindness to him." have not had my rubber." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms your sleep?' thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I horse could go." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "I cannot tell." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and the matter?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "What is it, then--a fire?" teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long present." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing crime." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring telegram would bring me down to your help." name is different." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic I shall communicate with you." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in you." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "A greater distance to travel." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the Red-headed League." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to thirty. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Yes, it would be as well." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told shall use the carriage to-night." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it light and attacked it." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few advice." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a corner of the building. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Was there a secret marriage?" closing the door. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "It certainly sounds feasible." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would geese which you supplied to the Alpha." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "My dear Holmes!" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. voice, changing her seat as requested. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon strong and stiff." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San disappearance of the bride.'" lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "Stolen, then." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving least a most suspicious remark." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "What then?" hurried away. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "'Yes, it was gone.' that you can jump it.' upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get little trying to do so much typewriting?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "Dirty?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." Munro.' "How often?" "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, key of the affair now." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "No, my brougham is waiting." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between enough to aid us in our search." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "What will you say?" to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to that you wished to speak to me?' villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for annoyance, but no jest. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." you." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Dark enough and sinister enough." with you?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Watson," he said cordially. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, an introduction to him?" own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "'Why that?' I asks. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Yes, all." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "I cannot think." mysterious business." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only