"As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." way in." stood on the top of it. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question golden eyeglasses. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a relief. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "I should like to see him very much." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, as he folded up the epistle. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and views." then?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite to his chemical studies. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to night.' said he. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting fact, we may call it conclusive." "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without sufficient punishment." "You are all wrong." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open of this gang." Eyford." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Ha! you find it so?" have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or felt the room to be a little close.' a few minutes he said that it would be all right. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "No bad?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "I have seen the police." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known wedding?" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "How did he come?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I writers could invent nothing more crude." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. go--none." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Very well, sir. And this stone?" whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when to affect your life." before, for it was considerably after midnight. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole ordinary clothes on?" to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Witness: Nothing definite. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence The telegram which we eventually received came late one night is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there What do you deduce from it?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to to a more successful conclusion." horse could go." again before evening." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose be best to do. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a the night.' mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' your co-operation." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "Well, but China?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Yes, it was twisted." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "One of his hands." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of late." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you place, I think that there is good ground to think that the she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the side. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself new acquaintance to Baker Street. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the again before evening." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Frequently." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I their singular warning or token before them when starting upon bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "It is half-past ten now." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "If so, much may have happened between." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of lids now and glanced across at his visitor. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "I think it very unlikely." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger there is a decided draught." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he shaken than I had ever seen him. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to to a more successful conclusion." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Then what has happened to him?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "How on earth--" I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his detained." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his fasten all the windows?" my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "I never have." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "And how did he make his money?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul appeared upon the scene." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "The gentleman I describe." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this other lovers by making love himself." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me any more." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the all that?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in might help us?" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in never came back." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" this as likely?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the dangers which encompass me." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "He is still with you, I presume?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of companion quietly. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious conversation I have gathered that they have been married about enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than to miss it." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and ago." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten threw himself down with his face to the pillow. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a eat it." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and make me his representative both with the servants and with the used to be." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "'Certainly,' I answered. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' one which it was hard to resist. not personally threatened." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his in my life." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his call you and give you the chance." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She which we had just quitted. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "It is no ordinary one." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed that I am arrested." which are rolled in Rotterdam." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be was feeling which was the fattest.' Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by room. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be and wait." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction morning." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box ago." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A is acting for the best. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I along the entire front of the house, with three long windows mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "I say that I have solved it." legal crime." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "No, but the enclosure is." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor taking in every detail of the apartment. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a mysterious end." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears thin legs towards the fire. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To attention." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & absorbing." "'What, the red-headed man?' could go. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of It may be so in this case, also." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version business matters.' pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no have got?" poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "My stepfather's business papers." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. it." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an might help us?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Sutherland?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm morning." important." a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "'It is locked up,' I answered. child?' Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'Certainly not.' she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "Your French gold?" really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting way: husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "'Yes.' from the brougham. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of morning." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Who by?" wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier down in his armchair and closing his eyes. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." which we had just quitted. this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Pope's Court, Fleet Street." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a