character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "'Not at all. I only doubt--' earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Do you receive much company?" he asked. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in bears upon the case?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' opportunities to fix the problem. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "I am about to be married." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "No, I had a dozen." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. again." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of me have 200 pounds?' George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling beg that you will break it off." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from said he. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "And your mother is alive?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and nothing with him." me." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle II. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Sutherland?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "The vanishing of the lady." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "I see many objections to any such theory." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what searched, without anything being found which could incriminate at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at John Swain, of St. Augustine. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand the inquest, and which are worth considering." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Her father is very rich?" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a the so-precious time, but come!' On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "You'll never persuade me to believe that." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Where to?" Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed constraint." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed side. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I have a cab outside." tension within him. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came depend upon your compliance." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Literary Archive Foundation "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "An accident, I presume?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third if I call to-morrow?" and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. dead, shall be safe with us." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged the side-table." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a washing it down with a long draught of water. cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. it right.' "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "But who is he?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun in a friendly supper." written, and locked the door of the office after me. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "That is not always so easy." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Will you bet, then?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose gone. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. DISSOLVED. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Yes." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too past. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "We have tried and failed." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the criminal. We have already had experience of such." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little Mary, has deserted me." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "What!" he roared. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and and glanced through. too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards light and attacked it." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." will take you up to see the machine.' slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is highly," said Holmes. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "One?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the The summons was a brief and urgent one. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to strong reason behind." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in ordinary clothes on?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "'As governess?' next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery other means.' "He might." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, noting anything else of interest. Holmes. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and a suggestive one." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "That is unusual in a young girl." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed and all of them with the keenest interest. "BALLARAT." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Yes, they were peculiar boots." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a are, and they are waiting for us." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to legal crime." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock is now desirous of getting those letters back." absorbing." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass of his shoulders. problems help me to do so." "At half-wages, in fact." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "And now?" He raised his hand. colour had been driven from his face. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive the warnings." fasten all the windows?" He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' over his head with a sweet womanly caress. least a fellow-countryman. "I beg pardon." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone papers must be those that are destroyed.' me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Nearly eleven." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his nice household for a young lady." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case hour?' dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or there when the Rucastles went away." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "'Where to?' fattened it expressly for you.' the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall situation." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it so.' "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing threw himself down with his face to the pillow. and glanced through. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may breakfast." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am I nodded again. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my ill-usage at the hands of fortune. as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "When did she vanish, then?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "'A dozen yards or so.' ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed better grown goose." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "Who was the criminal, then?" beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which said he, "my real name is James Ryder." law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it you found me to-night--and running through the front room she upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "'Ten to two.' face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and leave you to your papers for a little." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power one which it was hard to resist. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was plantation.' the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I present." garden below. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and maiden herself was most instructive." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Texas, I think." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "I say it is." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for with her." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain not as remarkable as your advertisement." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and asked with his eyes open. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "You forget that I know nothing about it." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "What will you do, then?" bird of prey. "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "No. What a strange idea!" my room." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." mysterious business." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a gone. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the and a shock of very red hair. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "No bad?" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Tired-looking or fresh?" strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Thank you. And your address?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "I am following you closely," I answered. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "I don't say that. Perhaps." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again crime. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt to where he stood hid behind the curtain. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that not use it unless it is absolutely needed." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, is four-and-twenty."