and that he would see to anything that turned up. was lame." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "He said too much." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger unkempt, staring out at me. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "'Never,' said I. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By forbidden door. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest your own bird, so if you wish--" gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to eavesdroppers?' "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I to Leatherhead. about here speaks of his kindness to him." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "It is possible." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining know what is wrong with it.' little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. events, Mr. Windibank!" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Yes, that is the Crown." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a crime. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "And Miss Sutherland?" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, politicians who had been sent down from the North. some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur the bed, and you in that chair." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the should be so warm over such a trifle." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official vague figure huddled up in the darkness. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be yards of it?' never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Not I." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "And what then?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands like gravel from a pit.' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to speckled band?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Absolutely none." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I roused himself from his reverie. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "But how will you look?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Precisely." States. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Does that suggest anything?" "I have a cab outside." your co-operation." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the morning." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and upon an income of about 60 pounds." respectable self." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "And you can do nothing until then?" Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "How often?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "A confidential servant?" "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of residence of the great financier. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man companion imperturbably. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as pity, because in other respects you would really have done very sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "No, I had a dozen." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Nothing." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; out of this horrible affair." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Yes." Sutherland. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was entirely lost his self-respect." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "In San Francisco, a year ago." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Of what day?" "And your mother is alive?" "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "How did you trace it, then?" be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. directly by questioning you." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of tapping his fingers upon the table. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to your room." out of this horrible affair." becomes even more simple." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said married her." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, if I call to-morrow?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "And how in the world did you find them?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I father's place of business?" "Whose house is it?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera sit on the left-hand side of the driver." the south-west, I see." "You have compromised yourself seriously." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular it right.' "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can this truth that in these little records of our cases which you story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "We have tried and failed." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Where is it, then?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted know that the truth is known." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Yes. He waved his hands." breakfast." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to mystery may be cleared along those lines." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." had a long day." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the murdered man." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, your troubles." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed again." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "No bad?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "My stepfather's business papers." "Did your wife hear all this?" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in him, that man would not have given me such complete information I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, figure." morning." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Then I do not see the point." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of ceremony." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. will take you up to see the machine.' envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "But of what society?" "A confidential servant?" for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "But who is he?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court words came to my lips. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." ourselves in the office." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding derbies." to a light-house. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "What do you mean?" "One of the highest in England." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of the side-table." straighten it?" the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Well." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate gigantic client. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then or other trace. But how on earth--" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a purpose of examination. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Witness: Nothing definite. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and rat could hardly pass through." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, himself. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to business." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch he. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by enter Dr. Roylott's room." "And did you observe any change in her then?" my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "'Yes, I promise.' Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was ventilator." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 prison!" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a foot. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "Yes. He waved his hands." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a mysterious business." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan behind me. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by arrested. You then--" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "And how in the world did you find them?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" she used." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. bears upon the case?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the laugh and put his lips to my ear. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they felt the room to be a little close.' "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." as noiselessly as she had come. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Can I be of assistance?" younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled new acquaintance to Baker Street. present." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone developed." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "How often?" "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your away in different directions, and I went off to make my own view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic together. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the point our research must commence, and we will begin it by assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me child?' Foundation Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "What can it mean?" I gasped. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine sound at heart." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Then he might have called to you?" to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were used to be." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to the loss of it. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Yes, that is the Crown." "What! You do not mean bodies?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." been." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was of the efforts of the United States government and of the better have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, of the way of danger. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official very old mansion. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the one as in the other." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen as yours." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she six. Come in!" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it.