clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Stolen." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we four million human beings all jostling each other within the which it had come upon my father." putting in the horse. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Watson," he said cordially. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen directly by questioning you." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. and glanced through. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I and inquire as to the address." Foundation dates and names. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "None. Neville wrote those words." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "You think so, too?" "An accident, I presume?" hurried away. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." a room. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small chemical work which was so dear to him. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking note?" had formerly been in part my own. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "But you can know nothing of this?" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in beg that you will break it off." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his something of him before." acted in my house last night?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "My dear Holmes!" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across trifles." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "On Monday." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon drove away. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered of them has the shutters up.' your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or and wait." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, companion. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have second." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our meant it for the best. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Ah, but I was recommended to you." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an with some details as to your case." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as so far?" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been you?' Lee, in the county of Kent." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. soul! here is her carriage at the door." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "That also I could fathom." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same the night.' Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Yes." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." recover the gem." galvanised. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "On the contrary, this is the right side." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "In which, sir?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "He might." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before and looked back. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I without success. At last the little money which I had saved began 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was official police." "And Irene Adler?" Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Game for a morning drive?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in standing smiling on the door-step. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Miss Holder?" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a for securing the situation." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. written. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Will you go?" where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon taking in every detail of the apartment. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who the very morning of the wedding." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Eyford at 11:15.' "'Certainly not. But why?' "Very murderous indeed." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "I was afraid that you were engaged." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no comes from the middle window." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "I think that I had better go, Holmes." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone some mystery and the punishment of some crime." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "May I see it?" saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "'Yes.' evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the said I. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "An accident, I presume?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Then I do not see the point." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Here?" And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took in his power. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to Foundation points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us green of the new foliage. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "On Monday." are, I think, all that we need." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you to have been novel and of interest." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered before the coroner and the police-court." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their you came in." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had gbnewby@pglaf.org the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Never." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a together. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "And the murderer?" have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and to arrive at through this?" possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, said he at last. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the be. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut it with his own hands." made his money." legal crime." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at to miss it." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to You can understand that this register and diary may implicate at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been so far?" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. went to the Alpha were town bred." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "By no means." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will London for the present?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly tapping his fingers upon the table. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "I was afraid that you were engaged." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he other, as fresh and trim as possible. friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter breakfast and whispered something to her husband. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones so.' o'clock is it?" your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should forbidden door. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Frequently." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper papers diligently of late, have you not?" We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I against a man in the prime of life?" weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is your most interesting statement." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the clanging. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Yes, but only for you and me." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of never will be, entirely cleared up. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You this man was intellectual?" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There humiliation." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he outbreak?" the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an ready to-morrow?' yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "And now?" I asked. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my point our research must commence, and we will begin it by acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "No, my brougham is waiting." "And it is--" eat it." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an his forehead." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Yes, from Horsham." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come searched, without anything being found which could incriminate nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped voice, changing her seat as requested. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had excitement. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered tell me that you intended to go into harness." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a country, and eventually married, without anyone having a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There You want to know what became of those geese?" in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we