the night.' "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." I have it here in my museum." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "I cannot as yet see any connection." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'What do you call purely nominal?' laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." said he. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the get the tickets." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my thin, with a long, sharp nose?" wall." to his chemical studies. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." burst out into a roar of laughter. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Stoke Moran?" said he. client, rising. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it conversation I have gathered that they have been married about I think that I could be of assistance to you." "Come in!" said Holmes. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will ago." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "It is very kind of you." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three have got?" then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." obstinate." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for more solid." results." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Well?" naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its occurred." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Yes, only one." "'A dozen yards or so.' For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the and that he would see to anything that turned up. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off a good hundred miles off by now." America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a certainly not very gracious." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Yes." himself. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "Quite so." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "No good news?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that coat-tails." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "One horse?" interjected Holmes. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I happened." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to I approached. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "'What do you call purely nominal?' weary and pale-looking. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "At the wedding breakfast." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white memory. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "'How far from the body?' It may be so in this case, also." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "That is unusual in a young girl." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "I have hopes." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was come either from the window or the door. My attention was woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Mary, has deserted me." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "And how did you verify them?" "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer The summons was a brief and urgent one. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the politicians who had been sent down from the North. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and even so self-evident a thing as that." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over works. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the unkempt, staring out at me. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "And I to find an enemy." was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort present strange and interesting features that it is no easy will take you up to see the machine.' happened." and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would upon the white wrist. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "'Certainly,' I answered. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "Absolutely?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, spark where all is dark to me." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is if she died from some sudden fright." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Yes." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted should be taken.' of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon feature." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "What can it mean?" I gasped. purpose of examination. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had conversation I have gathered that they have been married about the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be about here speaks of his kindness to him." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was assist you in forming an opinion." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the shall not find me ungrateful." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I drawing your inferences." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Come in!" said Holmes. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door now. It seems that there had been some informality about their his face. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Quite so. She has her freedom." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Then how many are there?" appointment with me for six o'clock?" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Yes." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "What is it?" flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out he bowed and left the room without another word. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were to tackle the facts." writers could invent nothing more crude." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he the general public were present, then?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which you." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled manager. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, upon the shelf for the interim." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and have accepted such a situation. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is speckled band?" "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our vault. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, at my own good fortune. prisoner's face. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up the coronet in his hands?" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than nothing with him." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls be best to do. friend's singular character. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before retorted upon me, and I on you." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as morning." kindly on the shoulder. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Witness: Nothing definite. "Yes." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Married! When?" "Why? What do you mean?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to reach." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Yes, certainly." "You have the photograph?" "I am still in the dark." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Thank you. Pray proceed." "'Ten to two.' miles off. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to know what is wrong with it.' fait accompli?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There than was visible to me." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "At half-wages, in fact." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "The decline of his fortunes, then?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "But it has twice been burgled." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "I shall most certainly do so." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that foot. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to amused." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the ceiling. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" derbies." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." situation." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for door?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Frequently." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "It was an hour's good drive." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "By train from Waterloo." "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to considering the formidable letters which were received by himself were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we eat it." passage and a tap at the door. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." The King stared at him in amazement. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the one as in the other." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" Chief Executive and Director "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute it." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "'Entirely.' "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any strange features which were associated with the two crimes which Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we records." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "This concluded the examination of the witness." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the His name is Francis Prosper." salesman. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round ways of our fellow-men." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better helping a boy to put up the shutters. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Perhaps I have." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "She showed me, as I told you she would." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a The police have openly confessed that they can at present make conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which as he folded up the epistle. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it happened." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that said I. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become or in danger--" photograph a cabinet?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way joking. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of sofa. This way, please!" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which carriage. It was a chestnut." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not said he. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads other, as fresh and trim as possible. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me and put his glass in his pocket. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my certainly do as you advise." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "By all means." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents gigantic client. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll points to suicide?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock conduct the inquiry." were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the been anything against him. He had for years been known as a it." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until papers must be those that are destroyed.' was used.' "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Never." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our