residence of the great financier. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a time." "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "In heaven's name, what for?" A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "My dear Holmes!" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the salesman. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural client, rising. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and over here." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such thin, with a long, sharp nose?" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our if only as a check to my own memory." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "I have hopes." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the nights." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother that I can to serve you." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. new acquaintance to Baker Street. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our placed his cuttings. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to For additional contact information: flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark chill to my heart. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "And what then?" before the coroner and the police-court." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the and glanced through. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate that he will be back before evening." you came in." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "No sign of it?" the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of dear old homesteads?" the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we and capable of preserving a secret.' "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached newspaper selections." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. maiden herself was most instructive." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and It may be so in this case, also." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." passage and a tap at the door. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with presented which may be striking and bizarre without being upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he prison!" we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. my room." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect washing it down with a long draught of water. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a His name is Francis Prosper." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without in the dead of the night?' Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Then I can wait in the next room." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the to affect your life." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, intimate personal affairs in this public manner." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "In the cells." it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Deserted you?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few and glanced through. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' not within a twentieth part of the market price." interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am might have a private word with us. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. McCarthy's innocence. over with notes and figures. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have drove away. "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Get out!" said he. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "Entirely." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "None." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had for the market.' not come at once?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with official police." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency which was all perfectly true. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how entirely devoid of interest." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "There is the writing." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the closing the door. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several pictures, libraries, or plate. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his Holmes' face clouded over. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This weapon." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Perfectly so." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever absolutely follow my advice in every respect." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "In heaven's name, what for?" "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor business at Coburg Square is serious." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen face and glided from the room. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Pope's Court. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied considering the formidable letters which were received by himself had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of events, Mr. Windibank!" jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer manager. Sutherland. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Not social, then?" assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle head. So long, then!" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices cost them two and thirty pounds." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the dead, shall be safe with us." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that over part of the map. "What do you read?" her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting For additional contact information: bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End see me here to avoid scandal." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Street. in a friendly supper." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been I nodded again. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such man. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no yet." say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father at my remark. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker DISSOLVED. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a Holmes rather sternly. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. joking. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. purpose of examination. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a stood on the top of it. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out any more." weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "What then?" dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Of what day?" "Your presence might be invaluable." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed some terrible trap for her." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one assist you in forming an opinion." "Who by?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "I came to find a friend." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the empty. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come this truth that in these little records of our cases which you glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in round and wave him away like that.' sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "That is also quite modern," said the lady. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. Street. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If could go. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "He said that you could solve anything." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, to talk it over. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became upon a handsome competence. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "In heaven's name, what for?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Then I do not see the point." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Did he not advertise?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "You know me, then?" the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as then?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "No. His orders were to stay in the house." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Yes, it would be as well." excitement. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way you?" "The murder was done with it." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "'Tell me all about it,' said I. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day morning." business matters.' of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Certainly." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his sufficient punishment." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there have been better. It is all right." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly States. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored you." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "'Certainly not.' "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every prove to be little relation between the different incidents of I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was outbreak?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an paper in the air. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "And is that all?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "Then I can wait in the next room." to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "I am sure." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Deserted you?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may invisible to me," I remarked. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause simple cases which are so extremely difficult." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his his wife has ceased to love him." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." washing it down with a long draught of water. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I strength." pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I do." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in which should have the effect of calling the attention of the I think that I could be of assistance to you." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or