be best to do. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Ample." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "It is possible." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand of campaign. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant as this. Pray let me have the details." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the to me. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily fuss that is made over them." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Frequently." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "No legal papers or certificates?" particular state visit http://pglaf.org "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "My private note-paper." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable dates and names. "My dear Holmes!" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place remarked. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses we went to search for him, face downward in a little and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you a room. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched derbies." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it locked. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal country, and eventually married, without anyone having a I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little individual and becomes the badge of a society." His smile broadened. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Holmes rather sternly. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a back into the street. was a perfect sample of the class. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "And how?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Stoke Moran?" said he. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "No bad?" writers could invent nothing more crude." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California of the one which your family is now devouring." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons she slowly sank and died without having recovered her little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, the matter?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "But what harm can there be in that?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce Clair, of Lee." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "And what then?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no your most interesting statement." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the weary and pale-looking. call you and give you the chance." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any advice." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." long narrative. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." which we had just quitted. hand, madam?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, other lovers by making love himself." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong brought there to personate someone, and the real person is paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "'I shall certainly be there.' as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client province." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on salesman. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "And is that all?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their a good hundred miles off by now." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding notes," he said. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "But what harm can there be in that?" The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' writer." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "'About the same.' we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Farm upon the left." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." wife's character?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the this as likely?" master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside not as remarkable as your advertisement." "This photograph!" like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Will you bet, then?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "BALLARAT." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "Witness: I must still refuse. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had interests were the same as his." "And who is her maid?" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly carriage. It was a chestnut." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me you understand?" the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or From what you have told me I think that it is possible that of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. in him." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his girl said." 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out lamp. tear off another piece?' "'And what are they worth?' I asked. experiences." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "It is to him that this trophy belongs." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found washing it down with a long draught of water. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "But how?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study absorbing." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. the stable lane now." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been strange features which were associated with the two crimes which The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the think that any burglar could have done. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no rose-bushes. bearing upon the case." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'Which dealer's?' Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Oh, fresh and glossy." "And what did you learn from him?" warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William my friend's incisive reasoning. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and kindly on the shoulder. man. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and third from London." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Could he throw no light?" dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "I will get her to show me." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Game for a morning drive?" this Miss Turner." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The strength." "What then?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet since then to throw any light upon what became of him." papers." "'I have already given you my word.' to-night." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer Pool. you." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "There is the writing." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "None." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. not personally threatened." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor again on its way. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then During two years I have had three consultations and one small has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "Certainly." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual to miss it." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. ago." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a Serpentine Avenue. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal to surprise her." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the salesman. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Murdered?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue relation between them, and what the object of his repeated do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." see me here to avoid scandal." Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "And Irene Adler?" the stable lane now." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Has he come with you to-night?" opened the door, and slipped through. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "VIOLET HUNTER." should be so warm over such a trifle." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation conduct the inquiry." hurried by. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in have been better. It is all right." upon the sideboard." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The the nursery. "What is it?" temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy extraordinary contortions. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we details should find their way into the papers. Inspector I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the salesman. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he with her." 'please.'" approach us with offers to donate. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman his knees, staring into the fire. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "'What do you call purely nominal?' that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it might have a private word with us. seem to you to be relevant or not." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he country, and eventually married, without anyone having a my special province." "One of his hands." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to lectures into a series of tales." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "In which, sir?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "It is possible." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my