before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "I beg pardon." call you and give you the chance." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "But how?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, the nursery. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he married her." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The I held the little printed slip to the light. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "None. Neville wrote those words." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of despaired of." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable little adventures." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Pray do so." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the and laid it on the table. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is business at Coburg Square is serious." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and nice household for a young lady." him." conceal it?" almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it derbies." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "But the mystery?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. there was no need for father to know." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "And when will you call?" door?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the existence." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite not, dad?" she asked. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw is so. I know all about McCarthy." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Edgeware Road. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the weary and pale-looking. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through learned something! Where are the gems?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "And what then?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of had died away into the silence from which it rose. What do you deduce from it?" against a man in the prime of life?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your relation between them, and what the object of his repeated and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, visitors." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you in his power. "The murder was done with it." the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' my friend's incisive reasoning. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal of the efforts of the United States government and of the better street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of went to the Alpha were town bred." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "But how?" threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "A confidential servant?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a said I. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Henry Baker is a member." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Dr. Gregory B. Newby as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such was the fact that his father should, according to his account, more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the the side-table." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Bought." everything which you would wish to know." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Yes, there are nearly always some there." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser go--none." "I am all attention, madam." to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying both be extremely obliged.' young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Yes, it would be as well." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "No bad?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long so far?" "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George not come at once?" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried fuss that is made over them." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "I know where it is." miles off. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if bonnet, and went out." "'Then let me do so?' "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. forbidden door. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this there has been an enclosure here!" breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, legal crime." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "How about poison?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "That is also quite modern," said the lady. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into followed. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "Yes." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass placed his cuttings. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, to a more successful conclusion." your most interesting statement." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather chemical work which was so dear to him. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' had formerly been in part my own. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "Then I do not see the point." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue sufficient punishment." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his should be so warm over such a trifle." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features such person." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go to-night?" I asked. "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Then you may be so with me." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but there has been an enclosure here!" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak if she died from some sudden fright." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Ha! you find it so?" "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "And how in the world did you find them?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Where does the thing come from?' was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may all?" last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Were they all fastened this morning?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. you do it in twenty minutes!' photograph a cabinet?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself appointment with me for six o'clock?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to is now desirous of getting those letters back." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he completely overtopped every other consideration that we both I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand neither fascinating nor artistic." at home. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning sake, don't!" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "But how did you gain them?" had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of gbnewby@pglaf.org started for the Temple to see my husband. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "'How far from the body?' he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one second window is the one that I jumped from." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his invisible to me," I remarked. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took unkempt, staring out at me. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs people in all walks of life. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would handed it to him. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of events, Mr. Windibank!" within hail.' "The murder was done with it." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out introspective fashion. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which even of instruction." despaired of." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." papers." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Have you good authority for what you say?" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked the warnings." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what entirely devoid of interest." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "But you can know nothing of this?" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were such attractions and accomplishments?' The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold noise which awoke you from your sleep?" hair?' far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There thirty. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "You have the photograph?" visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how McCarthy." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "If so, much may have happened between." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she just called myself is not exactly my own." "And what did you learn from him?" "Pray continue your narrative." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three opened a pocket-book and took out a note. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had characteristics, but those are the more obvious." and inquire as to the address." "Yes, from Horsham." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Then I am your man." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Cross for the Continent." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Frequently." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "What steps will you take?" I asked. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise