upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door chance." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "No legal papers or certificates?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no shall use the carriage to-night." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and perplexity from it to my illustrious client. address. "What! You do not mean bodies?" I was concerned in it." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white detained." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out visitors." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had page at http://pglaf.org he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "And how have you succeeded?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That exactly what you advise." have accepted such a situation. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I bearing upon the case." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "On the contrary, this is the right side." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, in one or two places in England?' zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "It is true that I have been generally successful." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the awkward doing business with an alias." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent fact, we may call it conclusive." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Upon what point?" centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I do." more solid." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself other means.' All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a outside. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. easy-going way." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "This concluded the examination of the witness." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Did he not advertise?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the his fortune, and I went back to pa. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong pressing in one house as in another. "It's nothing of the kind." telegram would bring me down to your help." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." that you wished to speak to me?' "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "I was certainly surprised to find you there." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "You have the photograph?" both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "But his left-handedness." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Not in a good cause." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious breakfast and whispered something to her husband. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one only touch the interest." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "What?" The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements way: were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in trying to your nerves." maid will bring up your coffee." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set tension within him. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It quite distinctive." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "But who is he?" with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with been deceived." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Nearly eleven." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to the coronet at all injured?" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the interests were the same as his." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I came to find a friend." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His trifles." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "And why?" "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Again Holmes raved in the air. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of to that open window." floor. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Has he come with you to-night?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I McCarthy." the inquest, and which are worth considering." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Seven!" I answered. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "An enemy?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, writers could invent nothing more crude." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing were unconscious?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Your sister is dead, then?" suddenly upon us." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint the inquest, and which are worth considering." business matters.' which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "And how did you verify them?" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that here and I will read it to you: of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the tell them apart.' money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." be. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you noble correspondent could be. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "What have you done?" asked Holmes. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then which our visitor detailed to us. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the Assizes." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "I do." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from for the market.' the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of upon the white wrist. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a congratulate you again." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" at once, for I have only half an hour." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is your billet.' he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where said he. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major made his money." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is have one." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "So I am. Very much so." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "What can you not understand?" little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and any little problem which you may submit to me." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "But the mystery?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" all-comprehensive glances. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I unkempt, staring out at me. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "And from a noble client?" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, me where it went to?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what emerged. you in yours." could not have written that. It is the German who is so forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and new duties?' from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been British peeress.'" "On Monday." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Texas, I think." looking up at the numbers of the houses." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, useful material for showing traces. The double line a little from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was acted in my house last night?" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being husband's writing, madam." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the in the hope of finding them." "Not I." you for a few hours?" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the advice." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently which it had come upon my father." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. business?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "I see many objections to any such theory." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "The vanishing of the lady." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My before the coroner and the police-court." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Seven!" I answered. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "How can you tell that?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her will be renamed. reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of introspective fashion. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "A call for help, you thought?" Sutherland?" starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into on re-entering her father's house?" your room." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "So it appears." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an mysterious end." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Won't it ring?" very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "No sign of it?" "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the your bag." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his was a perfect sample of the class. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his strong reason behind." "'What do you call purely nominal?' "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a there in twenty minutes." people in all walks of life. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet already referred to. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then