tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "'There is a drive, then?' and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, populous neighbourhood." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the of the one which your family is now devouring." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his new acquaintance to Baker Street. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that characteristics, but those are the more obvious." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I unkempt, staring out at me. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" guilty one." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained constraint." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set think, you have already met." did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith wedding?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are I am not easy in my mind about them." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he approach us with offers to donate. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. lips." felt?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Eyford at 11:15.' his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and all of them with the keenest interest. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, annoyance, but no jest. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a floor. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Perhaps I have." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the sufficient punishment." indiscretion." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ be. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' your most interesting statement." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "I have seen the police." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned in this note: your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to long narrative. ways of our fellow-men." returning from some small jollification and was making his way playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the leave you to your papers for a little." and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and will be renamed. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to new acquaintance to Baker Street. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of records." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' was not a bird to be seen there. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, that I may have something better before very many minutes are that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a what I may call a really hard day's work." On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide your most interesting statement." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young orange pips. "That is easily got." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Proceed, then." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Certainly." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a how narrow had been my escape. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this call the police, let the police find what they can.' and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, the little opening for the ventilator is." in the dead of the night?' study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature Countess of Morcar's?" what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he province." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "What do you mean?" imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I I nodded again. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "And what then?" "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "One?" it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Yes, only one." occupations.' cigars in their mouths. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with during the last few years, and there are many noble families to without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "On the contrary, this is the right side." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to off." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and tightly behind him. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "No, finished." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." drove away. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it had this final quarrel? to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning towards the blaze. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." to miss it." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy within hail.' But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have call you and give you the chance." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it to-night?' copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the roots. "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very could not account in any way for the presence of the missing provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Well?" along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "I answered that I had not. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich mystery!" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Really! You surprise me." he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over bears upon the case?" was lame." little adventures." his eyes and forehead. matters immensely." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'Oh, no.' passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute woman." time." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and that I can to serve you." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said country, and eventually married, without anyone having a to a more successful conclusion." "How often?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the shoulder. "I cannot tell." round with crates and massive boxes. His smile broadened. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and disappearance of the bride.'" the child." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." humiliation." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, tapping his fingers upon the table. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "But she could not love him." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and late." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing that?' cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Were they all fastened this morning?" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "It missed him, then?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "'What then?' I asked. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was II. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB some water from a caraffe. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Who by?" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the fact, we may call it conclusive." secret." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' felt?" "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been will not take me long to tell. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "You heard nothing yourself last night?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. enough to aid us in our search." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips important." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "I should like to see him very much." "I will do it." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If problems help me to do so." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, have an American origin." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, the morning and make my own way in the world.' small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. cigars in the box." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Was he the only applicant?" time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "I beg pardon." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for go back?" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood amused." confronted him. coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." carriage. It was a chestnut." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon The police have openly confessed that they can at present make doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty writer." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I of your young ladies.' "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Yes, at the mines." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily conversation I have gathered that they have been married about know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to works. See paragraph 1.E below. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared charged with?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "I never have." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "A greater distance to travel." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those crackling voice. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his had a long day." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now a monotonous occupation." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! strength." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Well?" a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "One?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to who was a member of your goose club." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it weapon." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." fattened it expressly for you.' On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "But it has twice been burgled." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Mary, has deserted me." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe