housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat never to learn it at all." "I cannot imagine." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was prison!" dear old homesteads?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Very murderous indeed." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Very murderous indeed." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Well?" His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "We were both in the photograph." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for your sleep?' "Yes." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we name is different." "I am armed." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "'Certainly not. But why?' believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I from the brougham. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, behind me. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to train from Paddington which would bring you there at about of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are bird I ate is country bred." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a carpenter." "How about poison?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "It is his hat." "What of the rat, then?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I am to be neutral?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and glanced through. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple and looked back. ashen face. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of see a sister of mine apply for." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." Holmes' room. enough to aid us in our search." face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" once more. her also." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Pray continue your narrative." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "That was it, sir." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Where, indeed?" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able skylight. murdered man." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers envelope. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock the child." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to case-book, which he consulted. "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "How about poison?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "But you were on a friendly footing?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "It was an hour's good drive." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. ceremony." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. read over the extraordinary announcement. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked money should be paid at once.' brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding of Fenchurch Street." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could from you?" It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had into the room. that can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "What do you make of that, Watson?" total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "She will not sell." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again sentimental considerations in the background which would induce but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Why did you pick him?" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "And it is--" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "When did it break out?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the running down." the King without delay." "'Yes, it was gone.' delirious. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. will be renamed. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." jewels which you have stolen?' "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "But how?" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been to Leatherhead. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, there." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business I am not easy in my mind about them." where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It not come at once?" retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful shoulder; "he's all right." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "You will not go there first?" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I cannot tell." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and said I. noting anything else of interest. "Yes. He waved his hands." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Why, what do you mean?" put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per What do you deduce from it?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "But I am all in the dark." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "I should be immensely obliged to you." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is goes." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "'In my own bureau.' cup of tea. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a be sorry for having acted so harshly." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Why? What do you mean?" Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," and it need not interfere very much with one's other into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go he. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a detained." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" photograph?" "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the the inner apartment." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Upon what point?" "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I fear not." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and acted in my house last night?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I DAMAGE. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are of it with the greatest attention. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "It certainly sounds feasible." to that open window." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his the stable lane now." anything to do with the matter?" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Yes." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and shaken than I had ever seen him. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which or other trace. But how on earth--" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable as he remarks, very much against the son." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, against a man in the prime of life?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son Farm upon the left." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "The vanishing of the lady." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Married! When?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the lost his Christmas dinner." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the purpose equally well?" was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery quick march!" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken heavily into it. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Do you know him?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler it right.' self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Thank you. Pray proceed." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "But she will refuse." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the already referred to. or other trace. But how on earth--" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Tired-looking or fresh?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Farm upon the left." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "In what way?" asked Holmes. him, that man would not have given me such complete information "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "'Yes, sir.' "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you