enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Yes. He waved his hands." a good hundred miles off by now." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "But I have heard all that you have heard." The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon way in everything. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Does that suggest anything?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at washing it down with a long draught of water. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he said Mr. Holder. "You don't mind breaking the law?" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Pope's Court. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I seem to you to be relevant or not." "The knees of his trousers." will be renamed. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. hand, madam?" The King stared at him in amazement. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are there." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting http://www.gutenberg.net and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "How many? I don't know." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from Edgeware Road. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten easy-going way." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came infinite languor in his face. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something details." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds was it brought him the coronet? "Yes." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out What do you deduce from it?" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "How do you know, then?" "Witness: I must still refuse. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Pray tell us what has happened to you." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call begun to whiten, even as mine has." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake him!" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that pressing in one house as in another. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "And how did he make his money?" possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which third from London." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my ago." "Yes." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I promise," said Holmes. "It is his hat." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. mysterious end." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my could go. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Nothing." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Married! When?" congratulate you again." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his again." lamp in his hand. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "In answer to an advertisement." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole fish-monger and a tide-waiter." should be taken.' "Where, then, is my wife?" "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "You think that he is dead?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in to Leatherhead. the coronet in his hands?" police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, For additional contact information: his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "And leave your case unfinished?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Yesterday." II. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in be best to do. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time conceal it?" "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival works. "That you are never beaten." "Not in the least." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Have you her photograph?" gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and here." be sorry for having acted so harshly." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a before the coroner and the police-court." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Of Friday, June 19th." upon the sideboard." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "What have you done?" asked Holmes. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR tightly behind him. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'I shall certainly be there.' I have it here in my museum." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where breakfast." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before stepfather?" "Yes." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to persecution?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers not personally threatened." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an to affect your life." brain must have something in it." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are then?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I in the dead of the night?' lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be he bowed and left the room without another word. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, with some details as to your case." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of October 9, 1890. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to again on its way. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Which are?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "But how?" enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. laugh and put his lips to my ear. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very wedding?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Nothing?" occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are ill-usage at the hands of fortune. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the voice. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "'Stolen!' he cried. look upon these things in a different way." head. So long, then!" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the unprecedented a position." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then McCarthy's innocence. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is least a fellow-countryman. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her morning." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was cheerful." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss to some other building. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely made his money." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, gives a meaning to it." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'Which dealer's?' cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to been deceived." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "My dear Holmes!" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Where, indeed?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "The murder was done with it." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do weapon." morning." "10th. John Swain cleared. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to empty. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable introspective fashion. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "I was afraid that you were engaged." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were held up the lantern and gazed about him. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." fasten all the windows?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he call you and give you the chance." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was yet." "Pray let us have it, for all that." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will My friend smiled. started for the Temple to see my husband. used to be." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "My own seal." "Then how many are there?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "So I am. Very much so." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "What?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it see a sister of mine apply for." existence." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. wedding?" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "That you are never beaten." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check me upon any point which I do not make clear." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing obstinate." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Yes, he did." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Who was the criminal, then?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Where did he live, then?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he despaired of." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in