my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' if I call to-morrow?" morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical you found me to-night--and running through the front room she lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Here?" "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you which our visitor detailed to us. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. entirely devoid of interest." "How did you deduce the select?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard residence of the great financier. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings overpowering excitement and concern. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, delighted to hear it," he said. details." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the stones. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached to-morrow." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The matters immensely." written, and locked the door of the office after me. But Holmes shook his head gravely. pierced for earrings?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "My dear Holmes!" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a IS know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of or other trace. But how on earth--" human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the looking up at the numbers of the houses." purpose equally well?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did open." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" opened the door, and slipped through. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "What then?" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" the dangers which encompass me." hour." Henry Baker is a member." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project charge against him will break down." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the late." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is night.' said he. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." head. So long, then!" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to and shall probably return to London by the evening train." do.' "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone our word." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "'Quite sure, dad.' ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one I held the little printed slip to the light. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "Was your sister dressed?" despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "Now, then, what's the last entry?" back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "So I heard. You have him here?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning father's young wife. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the as this. Pray let me have the details." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. noting anything else of interest. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. be. "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her she to prove their authenticity?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can bill, which interests me deeply." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact the running down." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and wedding?" squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "But how could you guess what the motive was?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "On Monday." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "I have my revolver," said I. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest despaired of." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or I approached. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "She walked into the breakfast-room." "A confidential servant?" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it have not had my rubber." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Dr. Becher's." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Yes, certainly." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "What have you to say now?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, to-morrow." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "So I heard. You have him here?" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "I am in hopes that she does." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door purpose equally well?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that begin with, and I had not got mine yet." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "I should be immensely obliged to you." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the indiscretion." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of occupations.' position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "How can you tell that?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this at a side door. "What then?" "Imitated." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood may have an influence upon European history." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "But how?" "Well, some hundreds of times." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Where does the thing come from?' really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly highroad, where all traces were lost. "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "I was sure that I might rely on you." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. an introduction to him?" "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon matter." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." past. "Not yet." highly," said Holmes. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, such person." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking pressing in one house as in another. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "I will do it." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "But I am all in the dark." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, mystery may be cleared along those lines." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan see a sister of mine apply for." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his disappearance of these gems?" collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Was he the only applicant?" be sorry for having acted so harshly." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am walking." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "It's nothing of the kind." he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? down. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "The Coroner: What do you mean? "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of presented more singular features than that which was associated house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Yes." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Yes?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to away into the river." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "But how could you guess what the motive was?" about. tail." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler this man was intellectual?" "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do to change my dress. works. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Never." "Yes." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been meant it for the best. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "'Certainly not. But why?' that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was conduct the inquiry." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, little trying to do so much typewriting?" "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," retorted upon me, and I on you." Does that suggest anything?" "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached then?" My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the shaken than I had ever seen him. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'Entirely.' the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. question. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of late!' "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of yourselves in at night?" of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Get out!" said he. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "He said too much." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in article?" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "She will not sell." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "So I am. Very much so." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the she might be summoned. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his note?" stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "But it has twice been burgled." IS Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are own family. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I was mad--insane." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door