The events in question occurred in the early days of my so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser his face. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. quick march!" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could man. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one and the colonel ushered me in. bonnet, and went out." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. The King stared at him in amazement. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled bears upon the case?" the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his them, and came down just as you departed. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Have you it here?" "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a unprecedented a position." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, This is what he says: meanly of me." sooner or later she must fall a victim. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train from the brougham. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very and effective." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how outbreak?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "'Certainly,' I answered. in darkness. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in people in all walks of life. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some have been better. It is all right." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It not use it unless it is absolutely needed." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." I. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I his face. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at on re-entering her father's house?" of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "So I have heard." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Really! You surprise me." must be when I saw the door open.' "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, forbidden door. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge and have this put in the evening papers." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered and the whole place is in a blaze." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" exactly what you advise." "It is possible." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "When did it break out?" cost them two and thirty pounds." was a perfect sample of the class. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of was used.' thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "No, I am descending." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt in your London, you will know that the office of the company is only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the correct than the official force." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. have an American origin." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which himself. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's outside. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Do you go out much in society?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "What, then?" him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and I shall be with you presently." works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain that I am arrested." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Precisely." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Now, then, what's the last entry?" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them I held the little printed slip to the light. "'Yes, it was gone.' right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now of fine shops and stately business premises that they really our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Did your wife hear all this?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My McCarthy." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every bird I ate is country bred." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be direction." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "You are all wrong." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my that you saw all that I did." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "In answer to an advertisement." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do behind me. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a business." written, and locked the door of the office after me. "But his left-handedness." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "10th. John Swain cleared. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the conversation I have gathered that they have been married about sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out your bag." "We must have a cab." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing my former friend and companion. of Mr. Rucastle's." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "You have a clue?" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "You heard nothing yourself last night?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, to a light-house. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name never came back." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was existence." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "But his left-handedness." and a shock of very red hair. within hail.' official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family affair. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. observed. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a right! Sit down and let us talk it over." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Eh? What was that?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have himself to tell his story. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power would then never go into court at all." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better in a friendly supper." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident there when the Rucastles went away." "Yes." must be when I saw the door open.' think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our someone who had been in Australia." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Have you it here?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works never will be, entirely cleared up. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest noble correspondent could be. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Entirely." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't he died? It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through frequently gained my first real insight into the character of his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the hardly wander." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as geese which you supplied to the Alpha." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my will find little credit to be gained out of this case." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But in the dead of the night?' any." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not for the market.' anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and the coronet in his hands?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "She will not sell." morning." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage which we had just quitted. your Highness to the police-station?" time." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it It may be so in this case, also." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to purpose of examination. "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "I cannot think." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man room. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was attention." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Yes, at the mines." vanished into the darkness. next day. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut think that any burglar could have done. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a appeared upon the scene." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man round and wave him away like that.' "Yes." said he at last. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. was a lad." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his you?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. wedding?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do unclasping of his long thin hands. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't Mrs. Toller serenely. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had manager. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "It is to him that this trophy belongs." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "It is to him that this trophy belongs." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his was a loud and authoritative tap. "I have solved it."