address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the third from London." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but and shall probably return to London by the evening train." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter Pope's Court. on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of crime." you, my dear young lady?' my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "I was certainly surprised to find you there." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "You think so, too?" LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking me." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Yes." overpowering excitement and concern. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and ventilator." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her already referred to. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, said I. "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "I have my revolver," said I. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a in the port of London." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "And your mother is alive?" "She will not sell." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was the address that was given us in the advertisement. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "And what did you see?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Ah, but I was recommended to you." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I with you?" girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and happened." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "It is solved." weary and pale-looking. such attractions and accomplishments?' long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "And what did you learn from him?" really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There dead, shall be safe with us." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Stoke Moran." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I heavily into it. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." begun to whiten, even as mine has." housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "And how?" prepare for the new role I have to play." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Will you bet, then?" gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," has little to do with my story." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely tell them apart.' retorted upon me, and I on you." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of heavily into it. fluttered off among the others. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "It came here." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "And I to find an enemy." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight gone. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "In which, sir?" "Did your wife hear all this?" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight all-comprehensive glances. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded again before evening." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a crime." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the suddenly upon us." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and and a shock of very red hair. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to here and I will read it to you: I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "I cannot imagine." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his made his money." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were detained." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right I held the little printed slip to the light. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "'Which dealer's?' Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yesterday." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "What do you mean?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always not personally threatened." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. you, my dear young lady?' revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. handed it to him. arrested. You then--" train from Paddington which would bring you there at about the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you will be renamed. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Henry Baker is a member." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "The rest you will leave in our hands." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a retorted upon me, and I on you." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we washing it down with a long draught of water. "No, distinctly professional." that you wished to speak to me?' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, said he. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be letters?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have relief. upon the shelf for the interim." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As you." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "Imitated." if only as a check to my own memory." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest later, upon the night of May 2nd." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Was your sister dressed?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "Who by?" "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as himself to tell his story. brain must have something in it." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "I will get her to show me." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are mysterious business." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." not, dad?" she asked. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they and no precautions can guard against." the King without delay." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running stammered. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the really the only notable feature about the thing." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," Dr. Gregory B. Newby I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "He disappeared so suddenly." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "May I see it?" "What are they?" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "I saw her in conversation with her maid." matter over." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "You will not go there first?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect and shall probably return to London by the evening train." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both formed some opinion?" to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely hair?' makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down your most interesting statement." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do envelope. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was to tell." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Whose house is it?" companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you own family. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "How about poison?" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Did he not advertise?" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Very much so." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "But she could not love him." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I will, Miss Turner." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Yes, I have one waiting." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Really! You surprise me." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Ample." enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. you understand?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Yes, all." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs interest. They are important, you understand, without being to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the read over the extraordinary announcement. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips seven miles from Eyford Station.' "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Not him." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Where, then, is my wife?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "How about poison?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "But the mystery?" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." his grey eyes. "It came here." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "I shall most certainly do so." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a the window, rose as we entered. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I ago." weapon." But Holmes shook his head gravely. "What!" he roared. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more habit of advancing money.' or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall have not had my rubber." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite It may be so in this case, also." "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, tell them apart.' treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Nearly eleven." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of enter Dr. Roylott's room." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to writer." highly," said Holmes. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are as this. Pray let me have the details." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "They are typewritten," I remarked. mystery!" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who You can understand that this register and diary may implicate or other trace. But how on earth--" that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Then he might have called to you?" James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have upon the white wrist. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those rooms." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'Never,' said I. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "You were travelling in the States?" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "Oh, yes, easily." will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and his eyes and forehead. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." the date of his supposed suicide." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, suddenly upon us." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the my special province." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked carried out of court." "On the contrary, this is the right side." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and 'please.'" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." should be taken.' 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual him. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich