"It is to him that this trophy belongs." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I fear not." delighted to hear it," he said. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear in this note: "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "And how did you find out?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock you understand?" this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, furiously. business." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB a very grave face. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this pound a week." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should meant." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "I am sure." "'I have already given you my word.' letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a gigantic client. is," said he presently: grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "How did he come?" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "'Ten to two.' and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "It is his hat." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a It may be so in this case, also." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Frequently." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I towards the blaze. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's his huge brown hands. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "No." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Has he come with you to-night?" "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I bears upon the case?" contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "The vanishing of the lady." page at http://pglaf.org her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "There is the writing." Foundation father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all your equipment. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" roused himself from his reverie. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things desk. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "And it is--" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was together. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "How often?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "My dear Holmes!" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I business came to an end." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Really! You surprise me." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," States. "The Coroner: What do you mean? bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Holmes. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Well?" "Not in a good cause." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. which it had come upon my father." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the little opening for the ventilator is." records." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their of this gang." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "I will try. What is it?" charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United matter." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "'What are you doing there?' he asked. the running down." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known morning." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while works. that the gas is not laid on in his house?" not interfere, come what may. You understand?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were matters immensely." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable certainly do as you advise." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs room?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "It certainly sounds feasible." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical Dr. Gregory B. Newby dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That fuss that is made over them." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom side. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the lids now and glanced across at his visitor. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a yourselves in at night?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Absolutely?" unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the his grey eyes. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any shaken than I had ever seen him. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "'Never.' in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell papers." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "In San Francisco, a year ago." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do you?' "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old newspaper selections." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of look upon these things in a different way." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Yes, that is the Crown." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." gbnewby@pglaf.org husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place colonel looking down at me. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback floor. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there just ask you whether you had heard it.' neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Murdered?" introspective fashion. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I next day. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and just ask you whether you had heard it.' months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is the so-precious time, but come!' out of this horrible affair." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "They are typewritten," I remarked. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. certainly do as you advise." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Won't it ring?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "How did that help you?" him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's with frightened eyes at his accuser. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "I say that I have solved it." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing bachelor.' "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Pope's Court. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face an introduction to him?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just digesting their breakfasts at home." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. acted in my house last night?" and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "The Cedars?" Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me eat it." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door means taking possession of that which another person has a prior We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last feature." o'clock is it?" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez certainly not very gracious." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "How on earth--" "When did she vanish, then?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "I am to be neutral?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first of his shoulders. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared new acquaintance to Baker Street. Pool. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a meant it for the best. lectures into a series of tales." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to which should have the effect of calling the attention of the was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Yes, at the mines." "I am still in the dark." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been conversation I have gathered that they have been married about Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from interested in these little problems, and since you are good "Come in!" said he. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." your own bird, so if you wish--" trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those begun to whiten, even as mine has." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security in darkness. later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the of this gang." she used." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "Could he throw no light?" or other trace. But how on earth--" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the loss of it. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "But you were on a friendly footing?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that delighted to hear it," he said. feature." she might be summoned. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace when you have done it." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to then?" "What steps will you take?" I asked. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "But I have heard all that you have heard." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you quick march!" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The success. asked with his eyes open. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "And why in hopes?" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some for the market.' commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I these bleak autumnal evenings." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been this poor creature." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged arrested. You then--" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" astonishment. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a the very morning of the wedding." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?"