"Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," conduct the inquiry." before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." the devil!" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "We have tried and failed." "The doctor?" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom From what you have told me I think that it is possible that system of imprisonment?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "And why?" past. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "His face fell immediately. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the him and tried to hold him back. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an during the last few years, and there are many noble families to for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to test if we have an answer to our advertisement." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Eyford at 11:15.' it." "No, finished." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must some water from a caraffe. occurred." http://www.gutenberg.net possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to said he. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the so-precious time, but come!' lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his in his power. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this October 9, 1890. fuss that is made over them." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." habit of advancing money.' thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will depend upon your compliance." into the room. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it look upon these things in a different way." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can affection." I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor cause to be." struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old meant." keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Yes, from Horsham." happened." I nodded again. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, such attractions and accomplishments?' "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Doctor, of the paper and the date." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Nothing." submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Yes, all." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Dr. Becher's." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good the roots. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; companion quietly. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Get out!" said he. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "But what harm can there be in that?" relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "I am following you closely," I answered. the bottom.' "Will you go?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying pictures, libraries, or plate. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what criminal. We have already had experience of such." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated lost his Christmas dinner." these bleak autumnal evenings." handed it to him. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Here?" anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, the little opening for the ventilator is." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid and all of them with the keenest interest. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to lids now and glanced across at his visitor. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "No, finished." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this "I cannot imagine." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Stolen, then." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on society." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some upon a handsome competence. "'I have heard so.' return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "You are all wrong." you?' It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "No." to tell." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord any little problem which you may submit to me." it right.' Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And What do you deduce from it?" It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Perhaps we may make them less so." nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "He disappeared so suddenly." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Yes, certainly." must be when I saw the door open.' "The landlord of the Alpha." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we ordinary clothes on?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me have an American origin." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a delighted to hear it," he said. "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and husband's writing, madam." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. o'clock is it?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Dr. Becher's." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "I am all attention, madam." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to License. You must require such a user to return or house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was easy-going way." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a noble correspondent could be. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "So I heard. You have him here?" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to brain must have something in it." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Precisely." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I purpose of examination. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "I don't say that. Perhaps." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, little adventures." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make new duties?' Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "No, I had a dozen." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, question," said Holmes, smiling. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded matters immensely." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." bare slabs of marble. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "That is possible." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point 1.F. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "Texas, I think." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "So I have heard." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a several quiet little villages up there." seen the man in the road." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I desk. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to the general public were present, then?" gone before you can get him to hospital." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone to tackle the facts." bill, which interests me deeply." "Her father is very rich?" some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the the address that was given us in the advertisement. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in memory. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "But she could not love him." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his about. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "No?" room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "I am about to be married." the Assizes." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but ventilator." "Upon what point?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you singular points about the case. What did the police think of the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over room?" the salesman. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and country, and eventually married, without anyone having a shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' chemical work which was so dear to him. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most whereabouts. asked. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the girl said." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." keep the flames under. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "What do you mean?" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "A call for help, you thought?" eavesdroppers?' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "I cannot imagine." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a envelope. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Sutherland. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Did you become engaged then?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and few hundred pounds.' Holmes' room. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter Pope's Court. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "No legal papers or certificates?" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' highly," said Holmes. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "But I am all in the dark." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Holmes. ways of our fellow-men." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "Were they all fastened this morning?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Then I can wait in the next room." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not newspaper selections." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was to-night's adventure." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that notes," he said. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips not use it unless it is absolutely needed." VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "He is dead," cried several voices. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "She will not sell." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that little trying to do so much typewriting?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a I took the paper from him and read as follows: secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became awkward doing business with an alias." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in to-night's adventure." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'Then let me do so?' "Can I be of assistance?" eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the second." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger