"Seven!" I answered. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "That was it, sir." "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly envelope. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. indeed happy." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "'No, I know no one in these parts.' His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "'As governess?' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. come either from the window or the door. My attention was "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass appeal." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that detained." "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project never came back." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "My last client of the sort was a king." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" which our visitor detailed to us. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the death." "That you are never beaten." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is feature." tightly behind him. "Not social, then?" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear ordinary clothes on?" "And it is--" the devil!" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered started for the Temple to see my husband. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled better grown goose." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." here and I will read it to you: many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Here?" "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So late." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a about here speaks of his kindness to him." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "But to whom?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "And it is--" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the nothing with him." "He is dead," cried several voices. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "He said too much." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out hopeless attempt at recovering them." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a was feeling which was the fattest.' cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of said he. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" country, and eventually married, without anyone having a deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be enter into my head. in the port of London." was lame." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his you in yours." reach." bare slabs of marble. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "No." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the side-table." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I warn you that they are very incomplete." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "I cannot tell." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat late!' for the market.' hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "But I have heard all that you have heard." are, and they are waiting for us." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "And how did you find out?" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Will you go?" to have been novel and of interest." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy outside. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then point our research must commence, and we will begin it by was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Lee, in the county of Kent." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not woman who has had her own way to make in the world. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and in him." cigar and let me expound." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, it were putty." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper room. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Where did he live, then?" more solid." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "Two days later this same performance was gone through under a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "Thank you. Pray proceed." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "But of what society?" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "You were travelling in the States?" d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the which our visitor detailed to us. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "By no means." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the showing my impatience. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the to have been novel and of interest." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began persecution?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the the very morning of the wedding." strength in the others." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "And you thought he was pulled back?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the until night should bring an explanation. "The knees of his trousers." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, papers." our word." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." 11:15.' and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his problems help me to do so." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is from you?" as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. off." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and the dangers which encompass me." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "An enemy?" in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court to-night?" I asked. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Yes, at the mines." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never tension within him. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is of your young ladies.' Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I could not account in any way for the presence of the missing from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of III. rat could hardly pass through." public press." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the village inn over there?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "Proceed, then." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country http://www.gutenberg.net "Ten will be early enough." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom standing smiling on the door-step. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. way in." Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, you came in." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Dirty?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I get her out of the way." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon vague figure huddled up in the darkness. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town voice. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When brandy and water within his reach. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But the station." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, front of me. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your back alive. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. colonel looking down at me. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote thin, with a long, sharp nose?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Murdered?" instincts rose up against that laugh. she to prove their authenticity?" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch of the one which your family is now devouring." of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. in this note: "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Yes, it was twisted." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Did your wife hear all this?" "By no means." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Married! When?" all that?" of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a me what he had done with the three missing stones. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the His smile broadened. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as were new raised from a basin. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and fatally injured? something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "You horrify me." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our McCarthy." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? in his hands." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous success. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "There is the writing." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "Not him." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. conclusions. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "I was sure that I might rely on you." his wife has ceased to love him." Watson," he said cordially. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "And when will you call?" "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her and put his glass in his pocket. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Come in!" said he. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature him, that man would not have given me such complete information must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with floor. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood of the vacancies.' studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but ago." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable society." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold away into the river." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Imitated." been able to understand it, in a very few words. "'About the same.' of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which yourselves in at night?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was and your relations to her." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here dear old homesteads?" "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves where Mr. Fordham shows you.' bird I ate is country bred." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "What have you to say now?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something look upon these things in a different way." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he delighted to hear it," he said. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly."