air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off better grown goose." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from down. "Perfectly so." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose suspect him." enter Dr. Roylott's room." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "I will not look." "How about poison?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity directors, with the result that you have seen." we went to search for him, face downward in a little are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down been shamefully used." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I don't believe it." as he folded up the epistle. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "You think so, too?" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that quickly through a disagreeable task. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "That also I could fathom." seem to you to be relevant or not." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who unkempt, staring out at me. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the morning and make my own way in the world.' shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office pierced for earrings?" the running down." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "What, then?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, his forehead." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Imitated." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then front of the hall door has given its name to the place. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person certainly not very gracious." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I conduct the inquiry." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself crime." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "No, I think that I'll take it." just ask you whether you had heard it.' the devil!" the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You tightly behind him. "I do." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "And how did he make his money?" low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave fasten all the windows?" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit the devil!" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself that you wished to speak to me?' importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of it." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "No, thank goodness, she did not." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was hopeless attempt at recovering them." the little opening for the ventilator is." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "No legal papers or certificates?" outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "How long did she speak to this Alice?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have is acting for the best. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a useful material for showing traces. The double line a little these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Gutenberg-tm License. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and was feeling which was the fattest.' "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire it." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed the iron safe, which he closed upon it. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those was a lad." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and that before taking the final step I should like to submit the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and next day. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been lost nothing by them." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the gone. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I later, upon the night of May 2nd." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which at home. "Texas, I think." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "By train from Waterloo." "So I have heard." business at Coburg Square is serious." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Holmes rather sternly. done what I asked you, Jones?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down companion imperturbably. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "We were both in the photograph." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his written, and locked the door of the office after me. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch lamp in his hand. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Witness: I must still refuse. constraint." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' here and I will read it to you: "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than was feeling which was the fattest.' he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Perhaps we may make them less so." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Holmes' room. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the loss of it. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you Leadenhall Street--and--" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn purpose of examination. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "You know me, then?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all goes." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying occupations.' word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the already referred to. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "No, thank goodness, she did not." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is of the way of danger. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her waste of energy." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, noting anything else of interest. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in existence." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in forecastle of an emigrant ship. page at http://pglaf.org "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in there is a decided draught." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. secret." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the absorbing." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining a very grave face. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "About a month then." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." enter Dr. Roylott's room." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There cost them two and thirty pounds." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "'Is purely nominal.' opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and forbidden door. rooms." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not the date of his supposed suicide." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a as this. Pray let me have the details." one of the states of the Union." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "He might." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, learned something! Where are the gems?" spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I mystery!" up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB remarked. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "I am sure." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Pray let us have it, for all that." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Where, then, is my wife?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered a monotonous occupation." "'Never.' Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "And why?" "Come in!" said he. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at congenial hunt. "'And what salary do you ask?' ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Then what has happened to him?" take the flies, but not before." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot undoubtedly my uncle's." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty with her." mystery may be cleared along those lines." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk during which he might have communicated with his friend the it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to gbnewby@pglaf.org We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Lee, in the county of Kent." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at of the efforts of the United States government and of the better been lifted and conveyed somewhere." became a certainty. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. prepare for the new role I have to play." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "I was mad--insane." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon as this. Pray let me have the details." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, indeed happy." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the again on its way. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment laugh and put his lips to my ear. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "And the murderer?" which our visitor detailed to us. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "I shall most certainly do so." "Was he the only applicant?" tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Certainly, madam." have established a very serious case against the son of the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. humiliation." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way depend upon my doing so.' she used." "On your arm?" intimate personal affairs in this public manner." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must business at Coburg Square is serious." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and put his glass in his pocket. letters?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building searched, without anything being found which could incriminate that the gas is not laid on in his house?" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let