"Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King pressing in one house as in another. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I cannot tell." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." child?' dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "The Cedars?" "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more for the market.' come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "'There is a drive, then?' "May I see it?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir the armchair which I pushed forward for him. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Well, it is a possible supposition." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among is acting for the best. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's The telegram which we eventually received came late one night cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Not I." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that fasten all the windows?" whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I true." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. amused." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in was it brought him the coronet? "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his soul! here is her carriage at the door." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "To ruin me." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "That was it, sir." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Will you bet, then?" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "I will try. What is it?" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "And the murderer?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "You know me, then?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small you for a few hours?" are, I think, all that we need." the coronet at all injured?" prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "The murder was done with it." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Yes." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever shaken than I had ever seen him. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his fact, we may call it conclusive." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "It is half-past ten now." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite touch that coronet?' terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I should be taken.' thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." Gutenberg-tm License. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He young Openshaw's." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "ARAT," I read. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "You have carte blanche." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Yes, certainly." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such the roots. confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Have you her photograph?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had lectures into a series of tales." meanly of me." face and glided from the room. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to point in the dark hollow of his hand. with her." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Dark enough and sinister enough." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' are, and they are waiting for us." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Yes, from Horsham." should be so warm over such a trifle." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "What shall I do?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "You saw the ventilator, too?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for to miss it." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly least a fellow-countryman. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all chance at all." the little opening for the ventilator is." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. soul! here is her carriage at the door." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want me." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known little trying to do so much typewriting?" considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a returning from some small jollification and was making his way which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Pray continue your narrative." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to this poor creature." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it with the outside air!" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer relief. good-night and bustled off upon her way. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my the inquest, and which are worth considering." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and floor. "And your father? Did you tell him?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the paper in the air. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "You have it, sir, just as it happened." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled I leave." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set will take you up to see the machine.' no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "Then what has happened to him?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not status with the IRS. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his their singular warning or token before them when starting upon family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for back alive. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose handed it to him. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "'You cannot say what it was?' "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in province." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Certainly." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at Heh?' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." appeal." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up yards of it?' chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, again on its way. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Very truly yours, "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: gigantic client. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "'As governess?' if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must call it cruel." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss had died away into the silence from which it rose. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even I approached. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you a few minutes he said that it would be all right. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day my former friend and companion. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself tell them apart.' Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made you." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "My photograph." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "What of the rat, then?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out generous with you in money matters.' Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary of." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear ready to-morrow?' "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I will get her to show me." been shamefully used." "In what way?" asked Holmes. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew call you and give you the chance." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were chill to my heart. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of prepare for the new role I have to play." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per matters immensely." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to knowledge of the world." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. coat-tails." "Ha! you find it so?" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons at my own good fortune. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a are windows in it, of course?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. to-morrow." "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where nonsense.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, relief. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would enter into my head. of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had from the brougham. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, wedding?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until did not hear it also.' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but quite distinctive." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker matter over." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight