own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB seven miles from Eyford Station.' base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the the Friday. Was it to be in church?" you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the it means?" prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed congratulate you again." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a matter." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? be there in time for your coming." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, desk. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our 1.E.9. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Ah, but I was recommended to you." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, careless servant girl?" "I will, Miss Turner." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a perplexity from it to my illustrious client. the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic that threaten you." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," status with the IRS. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Then I can wait in the next room." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Not social, then?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "'In my own bureau.' could go. that you wished to speak to me?' John Swain, of St. Augustine. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Was he the only applicant?" you?' Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "He is dead," cried several voices. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "What have you to say now?" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time Street. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through 1.F. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar villagers almost as much as their master. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "What, then, did Peterson do?" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "Bought." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if see me here to avoid scandal." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, redistribution. came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of there was no need for father to know." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with horse could go." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you wedding?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the ways of our fellow-men." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time few hundred pounds.' danger is over." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Here?" in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the rooms." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: as yours." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to hair?' Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Nothing." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the again." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Yes, it would be as well." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "But you were on a friendly footing?" My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" death." mysterious business." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, for its centre. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." License. You must require such a user to return or from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "And what did you see?" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned business." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, prepare for the new role I have to play." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is My friend smiled. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." and the church but not where the lady lived." plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "I answered that I had not. cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the outsides of the windows. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our brandy and water within his reach. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Yes." gives a meaning to it." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "What shall I do?" to-night?' "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "When did she vanish, then?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and and that he would see to anything that turned up. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an pictures, libraries, or plate. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond wedding?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of with frightened eyes at his accuser. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked strode off upon his way. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" people in all walks of life. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other business." little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its annoyance, but no jest. in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Upon what point?" "'You cannot say what it was?' going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be suddenly upon us." near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "But of what society?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "No, I think that I'll take it." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the the south-west, I see." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, that?' by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "'I have already given you my word.' waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Not particularly." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the pierced for earrings?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, business?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off way: perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "'Where could I find him?' go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I have a cab outside." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by enough to aid us in our search." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Oh, fresh and glossy." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "I was mad--insane." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "I was afraid that you were engaged." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere perplexity from it to my illustrious client. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one God! What an exposure! What can I do?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of God! What an exposure! What can I do?" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the been able to understand it, in a very few words. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted me. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Really! You surprise me." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a thin legs towards the fire. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "What then?" work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are over with notes and figures. was shining brightly. have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "Yes?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "'Yes, sir.' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the gone. formed some opinion?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open correct than the official force." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's His smile broadened. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "'What do you call purely nominal?' "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, hopeless attempt at recovering them." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us Cross for the Continent." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced chamber." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Mary, has deserted me." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and together. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, upon the white wrist. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the bottom.' "No, I am descending." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in to his chemical studies. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must dear old homesteads?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by the coronet in his hand?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit that he will be back before evening." pressing in one house as in another. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he asked. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "In heaven's name, what for?" business in the City. She little knew what. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's so.' "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these might have a private word with us. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and there is a decided draught." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the crime. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as prove to be little relation between the different incidents of it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger married her." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed delighted to hear it," he said. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; the coronet at all injured?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "My dear Holmes!" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun take the flies, but not before." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They definite end. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a the dangers which encompass me." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw