"Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. orange pips. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich out." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open woman who has had her own way to make in the world. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "What! a murderous attack?" was it brought him the coronet? "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been digesting their breakfasts at home." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he ways of our fellow-men." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "Not in a good cause." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "What then?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." it right.' freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a suddenly upon us." a good hundred miles off by now." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "No, I had a dozen." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "I am in hopes that she does." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Stoke Moran." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you there was no need for father to know." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was them present such singular features as the strange train of and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in which our visitor detailed to us. "10th. John Swain cleared. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve was not a bird to be seen there. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that he bowed and left the room without another word. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the even so self-evident a thing as that." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief it." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit redistribution. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from Watson," he said cordially. was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: your only hope of safety." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. throat." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery strong and stiff." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "In which, sir?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a the side-table." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you and inquire as to the address." "Could he throw no light?" "Yes." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to roused himself from his reverie. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "My dear Holmes!" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "By all means." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide breakfast." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do his forehead." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my read it out to me." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we hopeless attempt at recovering them." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going voice. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each them?" sake, don't!" home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn him. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Your sister is dead, then?" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "What are they?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six that you wished to speak to me?' so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "And did you observe any change in her then?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "You have compromised yourself seriously." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we morning." appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little through." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without events, Mr. Windibank!" "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Pray do so." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I sofa. This way, please!" "From his hat?" "I guessed as much." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "To an English lawyer named Norton." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "None." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "And how did you verify them?" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure never to learn it at all." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any writer." been deceived." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the Assizes." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and of the way of danger. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" opened a pocket-book and took out a note. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow been." The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at hair?' little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey he. married her." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Yes." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "My private note-paper." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. fear." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It wedding?" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer States. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a words came to my lips. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Will you bet, then?" this remarkable episode. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of back to my heart. "'What, the red-headed man?' my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied infinite languor in his face. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other business?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' children over to America with him, so that I found myself without arrested. You then--" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "It is a murder, then?" "Very murderous indeed." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the all-comprehensive glances. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have golden eyeglasses. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "No. What a strange idea!" "Yes, sir." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of he. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that Holmes rather sternly. "There are none." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "That is unusual in a young girl." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated existence." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as recall any case within my experience which looked at the first naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do tell them apart.' enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I with you alone." stood on the top of it. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Your presence might be invaluable." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion he died? Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here answered with a sidelong glance. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" house for five minutes.' few hundred pounds.' time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This away in different directions, and I went off to make my own you." though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a the iron safe, which he closed upon it. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the she might be summoned. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Never to return." after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. for and were ordered to this address. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Married! When?" dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could other, as fresh and trim as possible. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which good for you to do.' "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was when your master had gone out." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "What is it?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "I am armed." "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook for its centre. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that noble correspondent could be. as this. Pray let me have the details." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "Was he the only applicant?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "And how did you verify them?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Very truly yours, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Then he might have called to you?" that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "Always." the south-west, I see." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before been shamefully used." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "It is very kind of you." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Not him." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" begun to whiten, even as mine has." a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A heavy and sharp instrument." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Nothing." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." way in everything. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I to some other building. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide pressing in one house as in another. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to call for protection in the marriage market, for the present there." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "No." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an said I. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she developed." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down it." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal is worth.' "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "I should wish to." do.' the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, the Red-headed League." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That when you have done it." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Imitated." Sholtos." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot