was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she new acquaintance to Baker Street. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "No, I am descending." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "No legal papers or certificates?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I never to learn it at all." "Precisely." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he entirely devoid of interest." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your direction." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving along the entire front of the house, with three long windows them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it were wasted." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. The summons was a brief and urgent one. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed official police." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'Never.' sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. locked." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' of this gang." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always she used." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and this as likely?" road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back of campaign. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a the tragedy. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'Then let me do so?' "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive feature." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you read it out to me." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most will take you up to see the machine.' little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her right! Sit down and let us talk it over." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, meant." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then never will be, entirely cleared up. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "You have but to name it." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very one which it was hard to resist. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Absolutely none." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Stoke Moran." system of imprisonment?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "But how?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "I have my revolver," said I. "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the words came to my lips. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Never to return." "What will you do, then?" could go. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There considering the formidable letters which were received by himself individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Stoke Moran?" said he. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they relief. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "Very truly yours, "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Pray do so." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much ready to-morrow?' "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my important." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" answered with a sidelong glance. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the crackling voice. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated father's place of business?" bird of prey. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do to-morrow." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the been shamefully used." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "It is very kind of you." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." room?" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "'Where could I find him?' You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "To ruin me." vanished into the darkness. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "But how could you guess what the motive was?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Not I." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "What do you mean?" broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of even of instruction." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he a little more before I quite committed myself. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "So I heard. You have him here?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'Certainly not. But why?' Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There him to go away.' upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "And you don't know his address?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do in the port of London." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her public press." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "At the wedding breakfast." "Pray continue your narrative." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "Perfectly so." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's colonel looking down at me. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was money should be paid at once.' became a certainty. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in to-night's adventure." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "But what will you do?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to fire. You quite follow me?" this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "'Never.' the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there official police." seen the man in the road." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "An enemy?" province." "Really! You surprise me." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "And what did you see?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "My private note-paper." away into the river." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough that I can to serve you." "Where is it, then?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good them?" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw gbnewby@pglaf.org "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a said Mr. Holder. questioning and rather startled gaze. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Lee, in the county of Kent." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "On Monday." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be weary and pale-looking. "Married! When?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Never." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you so.' matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day your room." Serpentine Avenue. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the floor. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, upon the sideboard." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "How do you know, then?" hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must correct than the official force." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "Yes, certainly." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which hereditary King of Bohemia." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "To ruin me." "It is true that I have been generally successful." with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her chair. her also." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" You want to know what became of those geese?" was it brought him the coronet? yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at skylight. away into the river." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "'What are you doing there?' he asked. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." sound at heart." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead rat could hardly pass through." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you some terrible trap for her." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable better grown goose." "Then, how do you know?" me where it went to?" The telegram which we eventually received came late one night The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and characteristics, but those are the more obvious." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his his huge brown hands. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the washing it down with a long draught of water.