pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "To the police?" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "Here?" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' papers diligently of late, have you not?" Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this depend upon my doing so.' "But of what society?" was not a bird to be seen there. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. following enigmatical notices: since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of respectable self." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "And leave your case unfinished?" to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds entirely lost his self-respect." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the looking up at the numbers of the houses." to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the running down." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a you, my dear young lady?' attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "None." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to there has been an enclosure here!" collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous been lifted and conveyed somewhere." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "One of his hands." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Quite so." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty along the entire front of the house, with three long windows common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project garden below. been able to understand it, in a very few words. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in client, rising. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Absolutely none." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have society." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was confronted him. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "No, I am descending." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured criminal. We have already had experience of such." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We voice. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Your presence might be invaluable." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you drawing your inferences." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush said he. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had there was no need for father to know." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman hereditary King of Bohemia." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'And the work?' Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see vault. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "To an end?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Game for a morning drive?" whether it answered to the description of any of their 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "An enemy?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and one else, I think." washing it down with a long draught of water. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. do.' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. from the brougham. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "But you can know nothing of this?" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Your sister is dead, then?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your the very morning of the wedding." his huge brown hands. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Then I can wait in the next room." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "'And what are they worth?' I asked. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "I will get her to show me." which it had come upon my father." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," enter Dr. Roylott's room." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" in darkness. was shining brightly. read over the extraordinary announcement. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. future lives." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are where we are going." him. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "And sit in the dark?" arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes the bed, and you in that chair." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I voice. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, populous neighbourhood." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel remarked. "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet of a light. "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I forecastle of an emigrant ship. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Perhaps we may make them less so." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "It missed him, then?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "He is dead," cried several voices. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for This is what he says: matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took house for five minutes.' street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had placed his cuttings. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "It is no ordinary one." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight guilty parties." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more memory. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "You think that he is dead?" wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "By no means." the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among waste of energy." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "A thing like a cleaver," said he. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that nonsense.' in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a important." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Pray do so." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, here." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has once more on the important position which you have been fortunate The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally the roots. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at tension within him. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Where is it, then?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the this poor creature." he died? the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Where is it, then?" "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy 'I should be able to look after that for you.' business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the as this. Pray let me have the details." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of fish-monger and a tide-waiter." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either The King stared at him in amazement. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and him. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "'What are you doing there?' he asked. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "My dear Holmes!" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked your co-operation." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates started for the Temple to see my husband. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. DISSOLVED. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It future lives." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "It surprised me." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That business matters.' threw himself down with his face to the pillow. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; that, and I came down." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "And from a noble client?" himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Lee, in the county of Kent." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "No more words. Get out!" because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Not particularly." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge ways including including checks, online payments and credit card one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for Lestrade of Scotland Yard." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we of his shoulders. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. this remarkable episode. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" for the market.' "What then?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar recover the gem." and a shock of very red hair. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your begin with, and I had not got mine yet." appeared upon the scene." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "Witness: Nothing definite. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "How did he come?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "By train from Waterloo." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. child?' charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I