but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning case-book, which he consulted. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant nice household for a young lady." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper assist you in forming an opinion." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and useful material for showing traces. The double line a little hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "No good news?" relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "No, finished." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a made his money." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "In answer to an advertisement." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "I cannot tell." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Yes, sir." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Leave Paddington by the 11:15." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in it." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the him!" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Surrey." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug becomes even more simple." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which my secret was safe in his possession. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "And you thought he was pulled back?" fled together." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. lumber-room." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being long narrative. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the unprofitable." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "You have but to name it." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, entirely lost his self-respect." Eyford at 11:15.' horse could go." brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different could not have written that. It is the German who is so the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "How did you trace it, then?" of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "About a month then." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; of campaign. "Where, then?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your think, you have already met." "I see many objections to any such theory." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself carpenter." electronic works The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "You forget that I know nothing about it." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your vague figure huddled up in the darkness. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "'Certainly,' I answered. brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is open." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She chemical work which was so dear to him. in darkness. the general public were present, then?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the one of them." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate upon a handsome competence. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." what do you think they found in the pockets?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "No legal papers or certificates?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in God! What an exposure! What can I do?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do to surprise her." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "And Irene Adler?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy from the brougham. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making some terrible trap for her." once more. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. colour had been driven from his face. the coroner come to?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "No sign of it?" and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they trying to your nerves." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in lamp. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a problems help me to do so." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "'Then let me do so?' fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "About a month then." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my out of this horrible affair." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has and the church but not where the lady lived." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" advice." reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story sooner or later she must fall a victim. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Then, how do you know?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, October 9, 1890. as he remarks, very much against the son." "Could he throw no light?" had died away into the silence from which it rose. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible new acquaintance to Baker Street. happened." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry never came back." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." bled considerably." The events in question occurred in the early days of my the tragedy. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been meanly of me." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others your billet.' thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the inner apartment." one else, I think." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have situation." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were been." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "I say it is." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened certainly not very gracious." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in Surrey." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the views." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. and inquire as to the address." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Certainly." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left death." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered "What, then?" horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich The police have openly confessed that they can at present make the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." my former friend and companion. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" residence of the great financier. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a definite end. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Young McCarthy must be got off, however." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin and that he would see to anything that turned up. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "A thing like a cleaver," said he. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly but preventing her from injuring another. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "To an end?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was his forehead." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the that?' hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed the driver. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" passage and a tap at the door. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "'Never.' by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, here and I will read it to you: "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net not use it unless it is absolutely needed." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, house for five minutes.' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes round and wave him away like that.' "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more in his hands." question. colonel looking down at me. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I have my revolver," said I. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "What will you say?" money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, assist you in forming an opinion." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my within hail.' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly strength in the others." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where intrusion of other matters." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." lost his Christmas dinner." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily secret." "Then he might have called to you?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the of the one which your family is now devouring." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "The decline of his fortunes, then?" far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who fasten all the windows?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her