in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Yesterday." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "My own seal." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "But not more so than I to find you." "Absolutely?" partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City the tragedy. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what and shall probably return to London by the evening train." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper together. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a his wife has ceased to love him." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of Pope's Court. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "I think it very unlikely." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day and inquire as to the address." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for in his hands." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." knowledge of the world." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "I have come for advice." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" hand, madam?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which things are very often connected not with the larger but with the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" friend's singular character. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "How about poison?" only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away is a common subject for conversation. "Well, but China?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I your Highness to the police-station?" "And leave your case unfinished?" Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Which are?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen like gravel from a pit.' is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even you for a few hours?" back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. your troubles." row." leaning back in his chair. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his not interfere, come what may. You understand?" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Again Holmes raved in the air. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by the bed, and you in that chair." "Witness: I must still refuse. the Red-headed League." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more visitors." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without to-morrow." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "'What, the red-headed man?' waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I promised to bring home. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, fear." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." remarked. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem into her hand at the door and which lured her within their isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Did your wife hear all this?" London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such she slowly sank and died without having recovered her severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry to tackle the facts." "I will get her to show me." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. asked. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter what these perils are?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he minor matters until to-morrow." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon envelope. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Was she in good spirits?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "Perhaps I have." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Stolen, then." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to meant it for the best. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this your bag." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." where she found matters as described by the last witness. followed. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon allusion to a rat. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks of the vacancies.' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "What will you say?" "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he companion imperturbably. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life invisible to me," I remarked. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here over here." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of had picked up in the wood. do.' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case little adventures." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "That also I could fathom." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot maid will bring up your coffee." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "Have you her photograph?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His ill-usage at the hands of fortune. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he himself. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "What is it?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning McCarthy's innocence. "No." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter quickly through a disagreeable task. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was down from London to inquire more deeply into it." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom shall use the carriage to-night." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Did you become engaged then?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between lamp. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish works. See paragraph 1.E below. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the his forehead." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage peculiar to him. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Pope's Court, Fleet Street." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I awaited us upon the table. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "'Entirely.' process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I observed. "You know me, then?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing late!' noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I morning." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Only as much as we can deduce." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Yes, the wine-cellar." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this think that he is innocent?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it pound a week." "And what did you see?" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been to change my dress. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself national property. I was determined that the law should have its that he has suffered." position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "'What do you call purely nominal?' from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "He said too much." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "But I am all in the dark." "Pray continue your narrative." to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Then I shall certainly come." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." matters immensely." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and meanly of me." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "What then?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Ten will be early enough." emerged. these bleak autumnal evenings." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Did you become engaged then?" "VIOLET HUNTER." could gather together that I was able to avert another public there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Can I be of assistance?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, certainly do as you advise." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "'Tell me all about it,' said I. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Then you may entirely rely on me." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. undoubtedly my uncle's." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small legal crime." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Edgeware Road. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his take the flies, but not before." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of know what is wrong with it.' the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Game for a morning drive?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at The note was undated, and without either signature or address. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had me. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and wedding?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This bonnet, and went out." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Was she in good spirits?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for likely to be some crony of the landlady's." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty carpenter." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "About a month then." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet clang of the bell. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is What do you deduce from it?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Do you receive much company?" he asked. woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to some place of shelter and let the county police know what has Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Pope's Court. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob cost them two and thirty pounds." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "I cannot think." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of