"It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and forehead. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. chill to my heart. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered again." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "How did you deduce the select?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and goes." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more photograph a cabinet?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just now. It seems that there had been some informality about their than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and of your young ladies.' "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, McCarthy." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "My private note-paper." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I over here." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very your Highness to the police-station?" to surprise her." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated could not have written that. It is the German who is so It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts of Mr. Rucastle's." few hundred pounds.' started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. breakfast?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation again before evening." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. dramatic, in fact." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any said he. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy so.' was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Absolutely none." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Pray let us have it, for all that." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Yes, sir." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. eat it." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide me upon any point which I do not make clear." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the the little opening for the ventilator is." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'A dozen yards or so.' "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having criminal. We have already had experience of such." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it gigantic client. forecastle of an emigrant ship. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such simple cases which are so extremely difficult." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have 'I should be able to look after that for you.' before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I am following you closely," I answered. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which visitors." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Farm upon the left." when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that to you." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "My Mary? Impossible!" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "'Never.' over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "And why?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her to miss it." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a chance." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. this unhappy family?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William case-book, which he consulted. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "'Where to?' "He said too much." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "You did not overhear what they said?" "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the James Windibank. Voilà tout!" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "The landlord of the Alpha." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever some terrible trap for her." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "About a month then." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and meant it for the best. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Yes." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "It surprised me." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less chamber." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we works. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough front of the hall door has given its name to the place. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you held up the lantern and gazed about him. feature." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "But she could not love him." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices Countess of Morcar's?" every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, should be taken.' introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside that the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "Is he quiet?" fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, least a most suspicious remark." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Watson," he said cordially. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Eh? What was that?" her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they the window, rose as we entered. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make in. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "One horse?" interjected Holmes. will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three what is your own theory as to what took place?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Was there a secret marriage?" specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "And on what day did he meet his death?" But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I nothing with him." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "He might." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler acted in my house last night?" did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "But it has twice been burgled." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, persecution?" "Of what day?" "At half-wages, in fact." "'Quite sure, dad.' c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges few hundred pounds.' room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, important." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the way: battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." in darkness. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to washing it down with a long draught of water. Serpentine Avenue. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and noble correspondent could be. mysterious business." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "The murder was done with it." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that unclasping of his long thin hands. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a along the entire front of the house, with three long windows can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of examine." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an obstinate." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This prisoner's face. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Watson," he said cordially. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "No. What a strange idea!" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his that he has suffered." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Has he come with you to-night?" questioning and rather startled gaze. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "A confidential servant?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I populous neighbourhood." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is signal between you and your father? one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the bed, and you in that chair." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "Really! You surprise me." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke to arrive at through this?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An better grown goose." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is you understand?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "10th. John Swain cleared. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up should be so warm over such a trifle." is four-and-twenty." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which when your master had gone out." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no up this clue while it is still hot." "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora depend upon your compliance." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? it." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the clanging. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee