of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two it." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. you." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "I cannot say that I have." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "At what time?" it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of that?' "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that amused." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "What will you say?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where window when the police appeared." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people it with his own hands." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his is a common subject for conversation. "'And the work?' another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "None." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, DISSOLVED. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." washing it down with a long draught of water. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the matter." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Have you her photograph?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor signal between you and your father? qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and yourselves in at night?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you this unhappy family?" towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, redistribution. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "An enemy?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your had no one to advise her at such a crisis." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" pierced for earrings?" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not address. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to train.' morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in you in your example." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned passage and a tap at the door. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "The murder was done with it." appointment with me for six o'clock?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "I think it very unlikely." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first telegram would bring me down to your help." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know all that?" Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' bore every mark of being an average commonplace British populous neighbourhood." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was not come at once?" "You have a clue?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I introspective fashion. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Mary, has deserted me." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a beyond words. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found presented which may be striking and bizarre without being on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "'In my own bureau.' could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. he. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "Of what?" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who tear off another piece?' Eyford at 11:15.' and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "'And the work?' determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Pray continue your narrative." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the maid will bring up your coffee." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the in a very precise fashion." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. house for five minutes.' the salesman. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing kind enough to tell me what I should do." to have that photograph." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as approach us with offers to donate. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "A confidential servant?" flock.' leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to letters?" danger is over." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., daring than any effort of the imagination." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." to-night's adventure." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, will take you up to see the machine.' "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "What shall I do?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Have you good authority for what you say?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' ways of our fellow-men." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little there in twenty minutes." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "And when will you call?" at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "That is easily got." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or fatally injured? "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how to tell." appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should that he has suffered." "'Yes, it was gone.' prepare for the new role I have to play." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Absolutely none." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, lumber-room." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: States. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "You are hungry," I remarked. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She already been minutely examined." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His and shall probably return to London by the evening train." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To McCarthy." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I know where it is." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to miles off. "None. Neville wrote those words." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the such attractions and accomplishments?' a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last you?" accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle despaired of." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "'A dozen yards or so.' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "'And the work?' once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was carriage. It was a chestnut." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Was your sister dressed?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. later, upon the night of May 2nd." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Just look it up, then." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the the one as in the other." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass within hail.' away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Yes, sir." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered must compliment you." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "I don't believe it." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Yes, at the mines." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The you want, then?' upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the of his shoulders. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." tear off another piece?' "Entirely." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "I have solved it." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Were they all fastened this morning?" his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "The King of Scandinavia." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his once more for Briony Lodge. second." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass enough to aid us in our search." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the to me. "And leave your case unfinished?" glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no new acquaintance to Baker Street. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now weapon." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring closely." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his developed." call for it in person on Monday morning.' sound at heart." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with intimate personal affairs in this public manner." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible any." "'Oh, no.' steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Certainly, madam." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Then you may entirely rely on me." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. friends, not even his own brother. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "How long did she speak to this Alice?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I His name is Francis Prosper." roused himself from his reverie. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Your French gold?" Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you