All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been better in every way that they should make their position a little "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB have established a very serious case against the son of the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered green of the new foliage. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to crime." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and down from London to inquire more deeply into it." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most will be renamed. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention the Friday. Was it to be in church?" this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "No. His orders were to stay in the house." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "I am still in the dark." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "'In my own bureau.' you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his outsides of the windows. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "In which, sir?" note?" struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "'Is purely nominal.' breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened yards of it?' this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, congenial hunt. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "No." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. forehead. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "But of what society?" "And how did he make his money?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the side-table." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, again." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "It may not come to that," said Holmes. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "On your arm?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Upon what point?" bearing upon the case." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at envelope. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found in a very precise fashion." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I beg pardon." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Holmes' thin, eager face. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of your co-operation." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "How did you trace it, then?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, chemical work which was so dear to him. "Yes, that is the Crown." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have directly by questioning you." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by indeed which he could not unravel. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. Holmes rather sternly. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Munro.' I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the Assizes." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently you?" we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "No, I am descending." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full believe that I should never have any practice at all. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Doctor, of the paper and the date." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and was used.' "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the laugh and put his lips to my ear. is now desirous of getting those letters back." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What their singular warning or token before them when starting upon were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "But of what society?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "But how?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "It was a confession," I ejaculated. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can the best of training." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew again on its way. most interesting one." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was your sleep?' treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "One of his hands." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "It is very clear." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, depend upon my doing so.' For additional contact information: matters immensely." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these murdered man." "Yes, he did." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "She told me to ask you." fluttered off among the others. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" telegram would bring me down to your help." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "So I heard. You have him here?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "What do you mean?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It again, where I was soon asleep. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "By no means." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We of your young ladies.' and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just mystery!" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin the window, rose as we entered. "But of what society?" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." second window is the one that I jumped from." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "How about poison?" description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for appeal." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to power." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you so far?" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much point in the dark hollow of his hand. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "But your client--" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a child?' Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms of campaign. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your my room." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' miles off. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Arthur Conan Doyle "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in go--none." entirely lost his self-respect." to a light-house. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "I have seen the police." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an frequently gained my first real insight into the character of he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. entirely lost his self-respect." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "That is unusual in a young girl." possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised and capable of preserving a secret.' leave you to your papers for a little." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which on re-entering her father's house?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, without a word or a look. be there in time for your coming." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were sneer upon his pale face. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. bled considerably." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had fishes. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Ah!" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "You horrify me!" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" business at Coburg Square is serious." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was pictures, libraries, or plate. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, narrative." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "But you can know nothing of this?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "By train from Waterloo." in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was business matters.' shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and excitement. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should my special province." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "'In my own bureau.' many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." distinguish the words: assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same fish-monger and a tide-waiter." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" occurred." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year possible that we could bring him back to her? hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Never." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "She showed me, as I told you she would." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy there when the Rucastles went away." with her." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up envelope. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Well?" he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, in my life." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "None." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, four million human beings all jostling each other within the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come weapon." said he at last. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. to-morrow." of the one which your family is now devouring." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such