house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton you." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Now, then, what's the last entry?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. certainly not very gracious." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the there." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." and the colonel ushered me in. "No legal papers or certificates?" of the way of danger. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable fatally injured? have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo side. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong instincts rose up against that laugh. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which wife's character?" over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner opened the door, and slipped through. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'Which dealer's?' against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally place no limit on the sum I may draw." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a round with crates and massive boxes. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "'Quite sure, dad.' in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on License. You must require such a user to return or armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a may have an influence upon European history." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in The King stared at him in amazement. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "He said too much." Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "But to whom?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the were unconscious?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for points in connection with it which never have been, and probably all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both done what I asked you, Jones?" his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has already been minutely examined." in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of with you?" fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Well, it is a possible supposition." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an place, I think that there is good ground to think that the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left hurried by. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend success. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my followed. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Who by?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Yes, sir." "You will not go there first?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and is acting for the best. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Project Gutenberg-tm works. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his and shall probably return to London by the evening train." to talk it over. instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Witness: Nothing definite. bird of prey. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain kind enough to tell me what I should do." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Nothing?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue ill-usage at the hands of fortune. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our charge against him will break down." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off a little more before I quite committed myself. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "It came here." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Nothing?" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a think you a quite exceptional woman." "No, but the enclosure is." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own crowd. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George I took the paper from him and read as follows: I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in him, that man would not have given me such complete information were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "It looks newer than the other things?" in this way: "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very be best to do. a suggestive one." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "We must have a cab." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm miles off. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and taking in every detail of the apartment. with her." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the ago." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute may never be exposed to such a temptation." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the together. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I the loss of it. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I photograph a cabinet?" with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, less than 26s. 4d. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "It is to him that this trophy belongs." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the shall not find me ungrateful." "I have a cab outside." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "'Quite sure, dad.' wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we charged with?" four million human beings all jostling each other within the himself to hunt down. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Henry Baker is a member." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "There are none." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of bonnet, and went out." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said do." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "Well, some hundreds of times." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Clair, of Lee." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Nothing?" power." question," said Holmes, smiling. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I Holmes' room. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up time." asked. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. that?' "What then?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured straighten it?" "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Perhaps we may make them less so." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was use an arc-and-compass breastpin." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot woman." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can have one." "What can you not understand?" The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your new duties?' grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I impression behind it as though a window had gently closed abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Witness: I must still refuse. closely." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. bearing upon the case." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. have got?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." hands. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no made him keep the appointment." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his cigar and let me expound." "And you thought he was pulled back?" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' upon an income of about 60 pounds." "'Certainly,' I answered. retorted upon me, and I on you." "She walked into the breakfast-room." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the your most interesting statement." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have manager. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it room. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has girl said." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a bears upon the case?" figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I with you alone." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods right! Sit down and let us talk it over." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a business in the City. She little knew what. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Arthur Conan Doyle seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "But how did you gain them?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get formed some opinion?" shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "And I to find an enemy." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been three of the beryls in it, was missing. 11:15.' that the gas is not laid on in his house?" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You the ceiling. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of compunction about shooting them down." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets nights." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I details should find their way into the papers. Inspector set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I say it is." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." is four-and-twenty." than to us. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as with some details as to your case." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Nearly eleven." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "So I am. Very much so." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Then you may be so with me." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "What have you to say now?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of be sorry for having acted so harshly." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "How can you tell that?" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation handed it to him. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "At what time?" conceal it?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll heavily into it. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he weighed down with some great anxiety. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." fishes. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "It surprised me." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the that?' know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do crowd. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one sufficient punishment." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's do.'