Street. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture danger is over." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, the roots. breakfast?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "From his hat?" passage and a tap at the door. it right.' parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from that downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "To an end?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "No. What a strange idea!" house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and questionable one." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate is worth.' for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this with some details as to your case." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our of Mr. Rucastle's." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Then he might have called to you?" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Project Gutenberg-tm works. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "I cannot imagine." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "I think it very unlikely." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close whether it answered to the description of any of their she to prove their authenticity?" felt the room to be a little close.' "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I out of this horrible affair." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a trying to your nerves." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & lamp. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to wife's character?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Of Friday, June 19th." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Will you go?" well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Witness: I must still refuse. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "No, thank goodness, she did not." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since hurried away. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Sholtos." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter own family. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an away to you." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting been with you?" window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "And you can do nothing until then?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, know all about it," he snarled. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with was shining brightly. halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed opportunities to fix the problem. matter." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address acquaintance?" it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made because she had spent so short a time in this country that she extraordinary contortions. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "I was mad--insane." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Nothing?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself his wife has ceased to love him." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "My opinion is in no way altered." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most detained." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "This photograph!" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Then you may entirely rely on me." prisoner's face. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "I was afraid that you were engaged." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling that before taking the final step I should like to submit the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about dear old homesteads?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the You want to know what became of those geese?" send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "At half-wages, in fact." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to official police." "Then I can wait in the next room." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "No, I had a dozen." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Breckinridge is his name." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of had no one to advise her at such a crisis." strong reason behind." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced redistribution. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a hands. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Precisely so. But how--" "Yes, he did." a room. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "And when will you call?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of six. Come in!" "And who is her maid?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "But how?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "What then?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let in his hands." http://gutenberg.net/license). companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "What I expected to see." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any tension within him. that I am arrested." as yours." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Not I." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "There are none." "Holmes, the busybody!" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her have I gained?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I lips." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was believe that I should never have any practice at all. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most became a certainty. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the from you?" only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "You will not go there first?" of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the during which he might have communicated with his friend the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Do you know him?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the galvanised. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a is a common subject for conversation. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "By no means." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting fuss that is made over them." so.' "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas trying to your nerves." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a weapon." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "And sit in the dark?" - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "What! You do not mean bodies?" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he fuss that is made over them." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall Project Gutenberg-tm works. "And on what day did he meet his death?" "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching answered with a sidelong glance. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "I will not look." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." the best of training." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "You horrify me!" "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the held up the lantern and gazed about him. me. You must get home instantly and act." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Who was the criminal, then?" to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "And your mother is alive?" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' breakfast and whispered something to her husband. charged with?" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Has he come with you to-night?" It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each to some other building. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from young Openshaw's." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "That you are never beaten." head. So long, then!" "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is developed." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "None." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do digesting their breakfasts at home." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, had died away into the silence from which it rose. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my I was concerned in it." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "I don't say that. Perhaps." You want to know what became of those geese?" "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "He said too much." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the lumber-room." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in guilty parties." posted to-day." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just morning." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'What are you doing there?' he asked. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. that you wished to speak to me?' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over For additional contact information: I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its ventilator." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. on in his house." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "No, thank goodness, she did not." matter." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the stepfather?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, congratulate you again." telegram would bring me down to your help." "'Stolen!' he cried. "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous said he, "my real name is James Ryder." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Why? What do you mean?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his been with you?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' round with crates and massive boxes. Henry Baker is a member." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "No more words. Get out!" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One over here." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it horse could go." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she your sleep?' blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the very morning of the wedding." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "By all means." any little problem which you may submit to me." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Who was the criminal, then?" The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all all that?" correct than the official force." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream wall." "I don't believe it." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height,