to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had me, and I could not think that his explanation of the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That than was visible to me." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. his grey eyes. "Did your wife hear all this?" the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Where did he live, then?" The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe conceal it?" to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "What do you make of that, Watson?" rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he call the police, let the police find what they can.' strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless ourselves in the office." not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. that you wished to speak to me?' flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging prisoner's face. that he has suffered." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "I beg pardon." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, intrusion of other matters." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his your troubles." importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from friends, not even his own brother. bare slabs of marble. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "I am to be neutral?" ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, matters immensely." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and vault. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included bed dies. Does not that strike you?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the the matter?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "'Quite sure, dad.' PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "'Yes, I promise.' help us in this matter." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at bearing upon the case." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Then I shall certainly come." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. and the whole place is in a blaze." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The room. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been you in yours." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Holmes. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "Precisely so. But how--" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "My dear Holmes!" case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "I am sure." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "I beg pardon." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a tell me that you intended to go into harness." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this quickly through a disagreeable task. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "I came to find a friend." you understand?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Dr. Gregory B. Newby brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "'And what are they worth?' I asked. once more to my work. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the became a certainty. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "His face fell immediately. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "On Monday." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "What shall I do?" into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Yes." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in who was a member of your goose club." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "How did you deduce the select?" Again Holmes raved in the air. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She your Highness to the police-station?" "My opinion is in no way altered." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose shadow pass over his face as I spoke. there were so many in the whole country as were brought together really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Pray do so." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "I will not look." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "An enemy?" has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of the station." my secret was safe in his possession. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the bears upon the case?" possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and But Holmes shook his head gravely. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. it were putty." chance." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. introspective fashion. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Yes." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, there when the Rucastles went away." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. sufficient punishment." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'Yes, I promise.' which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the locked. "Very. But will he see it?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the coroner come to?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When outside. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and know that the truth is known." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is to-night?" I asked. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a swore that no one else had been in the front room during the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug said I. noble correspondent could be. pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "And why?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and attention." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Farm upon the left." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I conclusions. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Perfectly so." in him." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a strong and stiff." "What steps will you take?" I asked. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Well, some hundreds of times." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity of your young ladies.' "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a intrusion of other matters." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by thirty. case-book, which he consulted. "How did he come?" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "But how will you look?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in away in different directions, and I went off to make my own forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" exactly what you advise." individual and becomes the badge of a society." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "By train from Waterloo." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Then he might have called to you?" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "And I say east," said my patient. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "She told me to ask you." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. ways of our fellow-men." union?" you." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. there when the Rucastles went away." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Watson," he said cordially. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'Entirely.' thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "I promise," said Holmes. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Here?" question you as to those details which seem to me to be most not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut heavy and sharp instrument." delighted to hear it," he said. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the records." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Yes, from Horsham." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Does that suggest anything?" to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the present strange and interesting features that it is no easy her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left on re-entering her father's house?" "Breckinridge is his name." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little minor matters until to-morrow." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." with her." "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Dirty?" was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he some place of shelter and let the county police know what has It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His completely overtopped every other consideration that we both on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "'What then?' I asked. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project peculiar to him. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." these bleak autumnal evenings." "In heaven's name, what for?" quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "You are all wrong." occupations.' together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he with some details as to your case." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's and no precautions can guard against." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was morning." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "How long did she speak to this Alice?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "What is it?" starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do crime. union?" grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire Pool. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me affection." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned