"And you don't know his address?" appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Not yet." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I since then to throw any light upon what became of him." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled letters?" weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some have I gained?" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, the coronet in his hands?" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "Why did you pick him?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab address. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the salesman. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Was the window open?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in to tell." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself heavily into it. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a the salesman. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." a room. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the His name is Francis Prosper." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case or in danger--" "None." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "The knees of his trousers." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Mrs. Toller serenely. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a frequently gained my first real insight into the character of guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Really! You surprise me." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found likely to be some crony of the landlady's." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "That also I could fathom." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." national property. I was determined that the law should have its hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the King without delay." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk are windows in it, of course?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle to tell." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Munro.' hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered dramatic, in fact." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "'And the work?' revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single the side-table." bearing upon the case." Serpentine Avenue. once more for Briony Lodge. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, him. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "'What, the red-headed man?' girl said." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "I cannot imagine." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive Countess of Morcar's?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Nothing." the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "It is his hat." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "I don't believe it." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an again on its way. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society me. You must get home instantly and act." had this final quarrel? be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "'Ten to two.' here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and records." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and union?" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too one's self under obligations.' "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned and effective." "Was your sister dressed?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "What! a murderous attack?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on rooms." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "But how?" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" dead, shall be safe with us." the stones. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding matter over." morning." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "I was afraid that you were engaged." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "How did that help you?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here himself to tell his story. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon only touch the interest." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a there has been an enclosure here!" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger before the coroner and the police-court." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss the coronet at all injured?" has little to do with my story." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers DISSOLVED. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like entirely devoid of interest." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that photograph?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their of fine shops and stately business premises that they really dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and which I could not give. He asked for Alice. entirely lost his self-respect." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture sufficient punishment." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much something of him before." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the very letters. But what is this written above them?' companion quietly. long narrative. "Ten will be early enough." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' very old mansion. "I should be immensely obliged to you." papers must be those that are destroyed.' reach." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "I would give my fortune to have them back." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his to-night?" I asked. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until of it with the greatest attention. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this second window is the one that I jumped from." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall clang of the bell. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked had a long day." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I directly by questioning you." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs Foundation young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to little trying to do so much typewriting?" through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and himself in a perplexing position. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "It is half-past ten now." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Pray do so." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing in my life." Project Gutenberg-tm works. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Was he the only applicant?" "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. your co-operation." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if invisible to me," I remarked. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to went to the Alpha were town bred." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "You were travelling in the States?" firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not of Mr. Rucastle's." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is into the bag, and made for the door. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the III. "To ruin me." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." was already answered. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a lamp in his hand. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off must compliment you." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "I should be immensely obliged to you." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Can I be of assistance?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "'I shall certainly be there.' conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that certainly do as you advise." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "And Irene Adler?" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. foot. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "Why? What do you mean?" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the said I. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On works. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end in his hands." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name business." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle in the dead of the night?' significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life I have it here in my museum." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of bonnet, and went out." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a his face. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and lids now and glanced across at his visitor. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a became a certainty. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on second." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote your sleep?' from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was