For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot leave you to your papers for a little." and all of them with the keenest interest. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "What is it?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Why did you beat the pavement?" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Could he throw no light?" of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is is a common subject for conversation. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." situation." security.' "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. in one or two places in England?' "'Yes, I promise.' "If I can be of use." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure But Holmes shook his head gravely. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he said he. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "He is still with you, I presume?" developed." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Is he quiet?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It disturbance in my wife." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Ample." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Because he was handy and would come cheap." extraordinary contortions. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "What do you mean?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the station." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "That is unusual in a young girl." later, upon the night of May 2nd." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the in a friendly supper." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he up this clue while it is still hot." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon and effective." the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a to miss it." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Yes, they were peculiar boots." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "I cannot tell." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "The King of Scandinavia." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I beg that you will break it off." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a carpenter." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Why? What do you mean?" veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "It is half-past ten now." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was at once, for I have only half an hour." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about returned to France?" passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing one of the states of the Union." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't front of me. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I lamp. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads cigars in their mouths. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she emerged. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Yes, it would be as well." I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "'Yes, it was gone.' out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "What shall I do?" "And from a noble client?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. of the way of danger. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are in a very precise fashion." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had congratulate you again." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when interests were the same as his." rat could hardly pass through." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND upon the sideboard." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or trifles." humiliation." of the vacancies.' necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If mystery." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "I cannot think." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Yes, the wine-cellar." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and subject to the trademark license, especially commercial outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his the stones. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "Where to?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "Never to return." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to of Mr. Rucastle's." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "My dear Holmes!" every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "'Certainly not. But why?' you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "What, then?" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Which are?" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may look upon these things in a different way." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Pool. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." bled considerably." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Yes." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let down. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I have solved it." "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to other lovers by making love himself." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of was a perfect sample of the class. redistribution. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Yes." like gravel from a pit.' society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I matter." that there was nothing in it, after all." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Your French gold?" presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." detective. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Mrs. Toller serenely. as he remarks, very much against the son." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" like that before?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from ago." case before our client came into the room." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Nothing." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us must be when I saw the door open.' a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is giving me time to thank him. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, it." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my young Openshaw's." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "I will do it." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Witness: Nothing definite. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the that, and I came down." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope words came to my lips. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," more terrible than the truth. weary and pale-looking. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like assist you in forming an opinion." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in will he say when he returns?" I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the inquest, and which are worth considering." Again Holmes raved in the air. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was opened the door, and slipped through. too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that what do you think they found in the pockets?" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an sound at heart." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he a room. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own mysterious end." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The I approached. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these views." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every observed. assist you in forming an opinion." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." burst out into a roar of laughter. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of whether it answered to the description of any of their We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and annoyance, but no jest. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." at once, for I have only half an hour." most interesting one." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "And Miss Sutherland?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "I would pay ten." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey for its centre. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of wall." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "Has he come with you to-night?" as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and then?" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "The best possible." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of carriage. It was a chestnut." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have returning from some small jollification and was making his way Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough vanished into the darkness. telegram would bring me down to your help." "He disappeared so suddenly." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "That also I could fathom." definite end. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "But how?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Nothing." this poor creature." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic as he remarks, very much against the son." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for