heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in examine." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must house for five minutes.' fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "By all means." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which lost his Christmas dinner." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers one's self under obligations.' assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter it." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is everything which you would wish to know." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Were they all fastened this morning?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. business at Coburg Square is serious." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon case-book, which he consulted. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on definite end. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she in a friendly supper." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "So it appears." note?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as salesman. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with weary and pale-looking. off." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The the little opening for the ventilator is." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. make me his representative both with the servants and with the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through over with notes and figures. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a newspaper selections." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "It is no ordinary one." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' opened the door, and slipped through. had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling quickly through a disagreeable task. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Did your wife hear all this?" least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "I promise," said Holmes. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my promised to bring home. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "Well." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Edgeware Road. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you will find little credit to be gained out of this case." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I bird I ate is country bred." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable results." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "I would give my fortune to have them back." him to be an active member of the medical profession." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon amused." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my to surprise her." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' of it with the greatest attention. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned more terrible than the truth. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation daring than any effort of the imagination." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense noise which awoke you from your sleep?" and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "I will not look." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "It looks newer than the other things?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "How can you tell that?" huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a at a side door. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Look there!" said he. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to grasp, he hurried from the room. "No. What a strange idea!" "Yes, the wine-cellar." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the disappearance of these gems?" with the outside air!" before the coroner and the police-court." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "You forget that I know nothing about it." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back do.' you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured woven round him. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, wedding?" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "And help." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was enough to aid us in our search." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and the colonel ushered me in. "And is that all?" "Very murderous indeed." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "'I have already given you my word.' prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with come either from the window or the door. My attention was for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have you understand?" strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not new acquaintance to Baker Street. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that appeared upon the scene." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she his face. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, way in everything. hopeless attempt at recovering them." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so fled together." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, at my own good fortune. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. dead, shall be safe with us." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated examine." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I am all attention, madam." Lee, in the county of Kent." London for the present?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, intrusion of other matters." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built highly," said Holmes. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became writers could invent nothing more crude." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of returning from some small jollification and was making his way as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Was your sister dressed?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which next day. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my started for the Temple to see my husband. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll that the gas is not laid on in his house?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was papers diligently of late, have you not?" "What do you mean?" would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll infinite languor in his face. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been the child." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take stepfather?" "What will you say?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical noting anything else of interest. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his morning." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "No, distinctly professional." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly guilty one." "Why did you pick him?" so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "No legal papers or certificates?" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Munro.' The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single is so. I know all about McCarthy." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." that I am arrested." paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "I have hopes." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Then what has happened to him?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "10th. John Swain cleared. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised any more." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "Where, then?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have point in the dark hollow of his hand. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who in his hands." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "And for present expenses?" papers." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and could gather together that I was able to avert another public Eyford at 11:15.' ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. Holmes' room. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly again, where I was soon asleep. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, said he. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were the Friday. Was it to be in church?" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' and wait." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of guilty parties." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the I shall communicate with you." I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael his huge brown hands. "Not him." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked so.' of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed