age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. address. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the you." "Did you observe the colour?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain guilty parties." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a question. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was words came to my lips. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "No." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the had picked up in the wood. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Yes, the wine-cellar." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in whether it answered to the description of any of their particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be figure." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, seen the man in the road." "'Certainly not. But why?' "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a colour had been driven from his face. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "I think it very unlikely." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Yes, I have one waiting." them?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would entirely devoid of interest." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "You are all wrong." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my The King stared at him in amazement. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt whereabouts. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'A dozen yards or so.' he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply quickly through a disagreeable task. "Yes." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At purpose of examination. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the of campaign. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party to-night." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it wedding?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, shoulder; "he's all right." what I may call a really hard day's work." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any locked." plantation.' "We have tried and failed." said he. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Whose house is it?" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how heavily into it. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "He is dead," cried several voices. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "It missed him, then?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them it." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Get out!" said he. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this stepfather?" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. this remarkable episode. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "It is possible." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "Where, then?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us salesman. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and wait." "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "No sign of it?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to ran thus: "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "'Where to?' hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried breakfast?" away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" used to be." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, digesting their breakfasts at home." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called cup of tea. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel beg that you will break it off." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl cheerful." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "'Yes, I promise.' instincts rose up against that laugh. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the stones. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "Ample." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same some city in a dream. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "But who is he?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "What of the rat, then?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "I think it very unlikely." resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a evidence," I remarked. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought yards of it?' invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Why? What do you mean?" case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. your billet.' But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "She showed me, as I told you she would." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some purpose of examination. "Why did you pick him?" "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "Have you it here?" interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Who by?" the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Very much so." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed dear old homesteads?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Henry Baker is a member." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your round with crates and massive boxes. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or pity, because in other respects you would really have done very not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body together. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second about. that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it so far?" not come at once?" possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he young Openshaw's." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Holmes. "So I have heard." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open tell him that I know him to be innocent." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew secret." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Pope's Court, Fleet Street." to his chemical studies. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored deduce something from that?" here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "But how?" tell them apart.' it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. and it need not interfere very much with one's other whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "I should wish to." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "But I have heard all that you have heard." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking be.' ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, to you." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "What then?" these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." any more." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "So I am. Very much so." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all meant it for the best. the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. promised to bring home. "Her father is very rich?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" of receipt of the work. License. You must require such a user to return or glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "And what then?" "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with what is your own theory as to what took place?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." is entirely a question of barometric pressure." from you?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Yes?" people don't know." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "I promise," said Holmes. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up that he will be back before evening." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "One of his hands." to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "'A dozen yards or so.' their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of joking. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method kind enough to tell me what I should do." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Is he quiet?" doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "'Never,' said I. you." which our visitor detailed to us. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Very. But will he see it?" "'I am sure if I had known--' initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped been." hopeless attempt at recovering them." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the trying to your nerves." go--none." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Who was the criminal, then?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, coroner's jury." impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version and no precautions can guard against." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you his fortune, and I went back to pa. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." entirely devoid of interest." had formerly been in part my own. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if congenial hunt. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Just look it up, then." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated your equipment. see me here to avoid scandal." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "You have a clue?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles closing the door. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to eavesdroppers?' you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir entirely lost his self-respect." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss your own bird, so if you wish--" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Nor running a chance of arrest?" better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "I cannot say that I have." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, astonishment. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "That is possible." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "What will you say?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'Very good.' had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than here." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we