"In heaven's name, what for?" heavily into it. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' wanted for ourselves." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let disturbance in my wife." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. matter." both be extremely obliged.' game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be father's young wife. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if it were putty." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the dangers which encompass me." there!' then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Do you know him?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "At the wedding breakfast." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge ran thus: "Where, then?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive cup of tea. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. papers." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "But your client--" was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him face and glided from the room. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon McCarthy." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a again before evening." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? of fine shops and stately business premises that they really same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it upon the white wrist. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "What!" he roared. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Then what has happened to him?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." closing the door. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge His smile broadened. a room. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "It is true that I have been generally successful." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of outsides of the windows. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on look dissatisfied." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, pressing in one house as in another. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to one or two very singular points about this room. For example, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the charge against him will break down." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "'What, the red-headed man?' At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for events, Mr. Windibank!" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "I came to find a friend." placed his cuttings. most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "My dear Holmes!" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "And you don't know his address?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as man. I know him from the photograph." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the will he say when he returns?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton could go. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, everything which you would wish to know." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Yes, he did." come either from the window or the door. My attention was 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "And for present expenses?" to affect your life." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "'What then?' I asked. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." ago." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." awaited us upon the table. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain particular state visit http://pglaf.org that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential and the church but not where the lady lived." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be to surprise her." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "No." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." call you and give you the chance." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." at my remark. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "My opinion is in no way altered." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove the King without delay." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was some place of shelter and let the county police know what has lost his Christmas dinner." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with outside." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "No, I had a dozen." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be so far?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I ways of our fellow-men." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "On the contrary, this is the right side." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each one else, I think." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "But how?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was digesting their breakfasts at home." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in nothing of it?" "And it is--" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, over part of the map. "What do you read?" Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been test if we have an answer to our advertisement." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Yes." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the is so. I know all about McCarthy." outside." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. unclasping of his long thin hands. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "He said too much." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came few hundred pounds.' one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Well?" "And why?" took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon gone before you can get him to hospital." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place charged with?" though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." seem to you to be relevant or not." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he tell them apart.' hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "A confidential servant?" fear." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Was he the only applicant?" of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough pierced for earrings?" dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond you." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." that I may have something better before very many minutes are had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else been able to understand it, in a very few words. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. neither fascinating nor artistic." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police for the market.' after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. to-night?" I asked. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "Then how many are there?" at my remark. The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It to tackle the facts." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Perhaps I have." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' obstinate." "'In my own bureau.' merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': leaning back in his chair. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Yes." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." of receipt of the work. and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting use an arc-and-compass breastpin." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side rose-bushes. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds carriage. It was a chestnut." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the bed, and you in that chair." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, His smile broadened. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "What, then, did Peterson do?" Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just even so self-evident a thing as that." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second What do you deduce from it?" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we hands. salesman. redistribution. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and orange pips. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "I am still in the dark." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "What is it?" the matter." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "My own seal." His name is Francis Prosper." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole tell them apart.' sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently to-night." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I lamp. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss written. bedroom door." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate which we had just quitted. dead, shall be safe with us." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have of the vacancies.' ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a the bottom.' "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not affair. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Farm upon the left." "But how?" veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the station." woven round him. just ask you whether you had heard it.' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Was she in good spirits?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He