"Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Yes, at the mines." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, late." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, bird I ate is country bred." look upon these things in a different way." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it at my own good fortune. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Yes." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "'Certainly not.' of receipt of the work. "Ten will be early enough." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by hair?' "'I am sure that I do not know.' be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "'Most admirably.' had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "'Which dealer's?' there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew you." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official sparkled upon his finger. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very outside." "Really! You surprise me." it." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "That is also quite modern," said the lady. that little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "No." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' you." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Could he throw no light?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better nice household for a young lady." have established a very serious case against the son of the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Quite so. She has her freedom." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if province." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you you came in." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is arms and began to sob in a high treble key. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Holmes, the busybody!" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess prisoner's face. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "But you can know nothing of this?" I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, returned to France?" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. child?' dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a never will be, entirely cleared up. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you it." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always way in." bird of prey. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water from you?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." been deceived." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his and laid it on the table. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "What have you to say now?" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project some city in a dream. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a pierced for earrings?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he individual and becomes the badge of a society." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Well, it is a possible supposition." "I am all attention, madam." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, II. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step guilty one." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the points to suicide?" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which cheerful." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "How did you trace it, then?" his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "You think so, too?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me be best to do. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "I assure you that I am in your hands." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the very morning of the wedding." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Precisely so. But how--" suspect him." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "In San Francisco, a year ago." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Never." "But the mystery?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "No good news?" cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. said Mr. Holder. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant better grown goose." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin said he. what these perils are?" of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might events, Mr. Windibank!" "Certainly." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, redistribution. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as your Highness to the police-station?" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good respectable self." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. light and attacked it." sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, people in all walks of life. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very have accepted such a situation. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and your only hope of safety." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Witness: I must still refuse. and a shock of very red hair. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Only as much as we can deduce." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven this Miss Turner." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and more terrible than the truth. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot may never be exposed to such a temptation." read over the extraordinary announcement. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a depend upon my doing so.' license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. comes from the middle window." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "One horse?" interjected Holmes. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, do you make of it all?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor was it brought him the coronet? "'Ten to two.' keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now be sorry for having acted so harshly." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering so.' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." seem to you to be relevant or not." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a you do it in twenty minutes!' IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Nothing?" McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean The events in question occurred in the early days of my dramatic, in fact." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very highroad, where all traces were lost. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I business." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little second window is the one that I jumped from." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? the matter?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "And leave your case unfinished?" seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now to arrive at through this?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "It is true that I have been generally successful." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Ah!" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "Never to return." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard fluttered off among the others. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "What do you mean?" "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Texas, I think." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been such attractions and accomplishments?' while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Leadenhall Street--and--" was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Where, then?" brain must have something in it." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' occurred." you." ago." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small rose-bushes. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp of the way of danger. "Not him." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in a little more before I quite committed myself. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love awaited us upon the table. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its correct than the official force." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town arrangements." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, forecastle of an emigrant ship. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may his face which made him a very different person to the round, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Certainly." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Not I." "It is possible." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Here?" so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his photograph?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." would then never go into court at all." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "You were travelling in the States?" "Ample." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his other lovers by making love himself." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out made his money." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was fuss that is made over them." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm it with his own hands." paper in the air. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He union?" forebodings. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we the coronet at all injured?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable