exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "But your client--" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been him to be an active member of the medical profession." how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be south, for the country is more deserted there." said I. happened." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were silent! Oh, he will be silent!' size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "'As governess?' glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may into her hand at the door and which lured her within their arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found happened." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good laugh and put his lips to my ear. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, bachelor.' "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in with her." spare." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest to-night?" I asked. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, whatever might befall. During two years I have had three consultations and one small It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" and a shock of very red hair. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may little adventures." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "On the contrary, this is the right side." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. maiden herself was most instructive." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down think that any burglar could have done. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." murdered man." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other dead, shall be safe with us." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and the warnings." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'Entirely.' Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the chance." DAMAGE. something of him before." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in direction." listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so some place of shelter and let the county police know what has eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "And how?" appeared upon the scene." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. other, as fresh and trim as possible. friend's singular character. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first for its centre. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while tension within him. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Where, then?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more beg that you will break it off." breakfast." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the he. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Then he might have called to you?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "How did you deduce the select?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "What, then?" particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding any." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come o'clock is it?" voice. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "And sit in the dark?" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked me have 200 pounds?' I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their it." to change my dress. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. his face. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "How often?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people you, my dear young lady?' up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to I nodded to show that I had heard. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he writing, and yet I know it well." "Yes." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever always that they were such commands as a lady might with other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Yes." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some over here." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for next day. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment photograph a cabinet?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Certainly." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round so far?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed house for five minutes.' "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the crime. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. morning." "So I have heard." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a morning." be.' square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand to where he stood hid behind the curtain. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "I say that I have solved it." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "'Where to?' follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "'Entirely.' prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and walking." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "And why?" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter wife's character?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "And what did you learn from him?" at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Then I am your man." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "To an English lawyer named Norton." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately it were putty." "The Cedars?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? acquaintance?" "But to whom?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "I have come for advice." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' with you alone." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was front of me. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "It was." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Did you observe the colour?" its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from troubles have been weighing upon his mind. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest The telegram which we eventually received came late one night done what I asked you, Jones?" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of whatever might befall. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "But what will you do?" right! Sit down and let us talk it over." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is there were so many in the whole country as were brought together you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he to Leatherhead. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." gone before you can get him to hospital." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "One of the highest in England." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom me, and I could not think that his explanation of the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "And why in hopes?" "'I have already given you my word.' This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "And you thought he was pulled back?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." the loss of it. "I have a cab outside." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "In what way?" asked Holmes. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Seven!" I answered. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying comes from the middle window." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. what is your own theory as to what took place?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the tell them apart.' "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "'In my own bureau.' the dangers which encompass me." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that look upon these things in a different way." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Yes, it would be as well." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "But to whom?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "But it has twice been burgled." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "A call for help, you thought?" stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. and I shall be with you presently." 1.E.9. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "I should be immensely obliged to you." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a upon a handsome competence. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal bill, which interests me deeply." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and narrative." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "No, my brougham is waiting." "But how will you look?" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, of Mr. Rucastle's." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Watson," he said cordially. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual these bleak autumnal evenings." received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far see me here to avoid scandal." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here had no one to advise her at such a crisis." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to is four-and-twenty." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the coronet in his hands?" to-night." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. them, and came down just as you departed. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would see a sister of mine apply for." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside we went to search for him, face downward in a little "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you colour had been driven from his face. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Holmes rather sternly. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, your sleep?' and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon jewels which you have stolen?' dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. touch that coronet?' the King without delay." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland room had already been engaged for us. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are opened the door, and slipped through. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made bed dies. Does not that strike you?" could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Come in!" said Holmes. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Lee, in the county of Kent." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the where she found matters as described by the last witness.