the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by long narrative. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." which are rolled in Rotterdam." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "Here?" writer." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked compunction about shooting them down." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and notes," he said. ready to-morrow?' doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB presented more singular features than that which was associated years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his Farm upon the left." constraint." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "What of the rat, then?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some you do it in twenty minutes!' "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "Where to?" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and down. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill kind enough to tell me what I should do." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on feature." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire round and wave him away like that.' same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I father's young wife. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He away into the river." 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. back into the street. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." to arrive at through this?" "But how will you look?" the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by present." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You taking in every detail of the apartment. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "And why in hopes?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with she might be summoned. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "ARAT," I read. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Street. lamp. "'Ten to two.' one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the roots. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, a very grave face. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the case before our client came into the room." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "'Never,' said I. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that him and tried to hold him back. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the even so self-evident a thing as that." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the bed dies. Does not that strike you?" think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Why? What do you mean?" he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there begun to whiten, even as mine has." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he generous with you in money matters.' address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose could go. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. fashion which was peculiar to him. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway without success. At last the little money which I had saved began carpenter." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which papers on the sundial.'" "But she will refuse." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" once more. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this cheerful." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Yes." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her you understand?" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project client, rising. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and have I gained?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "On your arm?" had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with will take you up to see the machine.' yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback lamp in his hand. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An morning." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Could he throw no light?" You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. promised to bring home. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody father's young wife. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the fire. You quite follow me?" great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. your troubles." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Yes." "Indeed! Whose, then?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same there has been an enclosure here!" "And how?" up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a the night.' Serpentine Avenue. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram felt?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no like gravel from a pit.' providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had his cane at the bell-pull. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and friends, not even his own brother. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but meanly of me." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "Did he not advertise?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "'Entirely.' and the colonel ushered me in. enough to aid us in our search." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a once more. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. such person." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "Pray be precise as to details," said he. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one singular points about the case. What did the police think of the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask bore every mark of being an average commonplace British been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across said he. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "'Where could I find him?' my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. for securing the situation." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Where, then, is my wife?" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the said Mr. Holder. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" unkempt, staring out at me. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer to-night?" I asked. by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard flock.' and prosperity to your house. Good-night." gives a meaning to it." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual was a loud and authoritative tap. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his interest. They are important, you understand, without being "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by my little problems." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. in his power. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not and the colonel ushered me in. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Was your sister dressed?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your help us in this matter." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "By all means." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers you." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in arrangements." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled get the tickets." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home a good hundred miles off by now." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich side. that you can jump it.' copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "What have you done?" asked Holmes. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "I cannot as yet see any connection." introspective fashion. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be just called myself is not exactly my own." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you very old mansion. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "How do you know, then?" "And help." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New ill-usage at the hands of fortune. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the forecastle of an emigrant ship. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Yes, the wine-cellar." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the happened." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has became a certainty. fashion which was peculiar to him. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." strength of mind to control. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "'You doubt its value?' he asked. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I The summons was a brief and urgent one. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at she slowly sank and died without having recovered her my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Yes, certainly." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so