and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed carpenter." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "'Quite sure, dad.' which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. when you have done it." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save closely." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': take the flies, but not before." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "I guessed as much." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "But his lameness?" coroner's jury." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who read over the extraordinary announcement. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its of it with the greatest attention. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "'How far from the body?' Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been less than 26s. 4d. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so married her." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly was feeling which was the fattest.' "On the contrary, this is the right side." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." nothing of it?" awkward doing business with an alias." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried everything which you would wish to know." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Why, what do you mean?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on crime. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan province." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of quick march!" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in himself. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the salesman. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her you in yours." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the present strange and interesting features that it is no easy impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "At what time?" pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your appointment with me for six o'clock?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "By no means." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to cost them two and thirty pounds." at my own good fortune. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'Yes, it was gone.' delirious. inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner his forehead." which are rolled in Rotterdam." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very for its centre. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with I leave." one which it was hard to resist. had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his recover the gem." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the writer." shoulder; "he's all right." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Then I can wait in the next room." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking detective. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his him. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into you." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Nothing?" (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and DAMAGE. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works foresight and the moral retrogression?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as the window, rose as we entered. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "So I heard. You have him here?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "The knees of his trousers." events than those which have happened in my own family." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or in a friendly supper." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down a good hundred miles off by now." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Yes." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "And why?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." door?" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I straighten it?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. during which he might have communicated with his friend the though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "I cannot tell." "Pray do so." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up upon the shelf for the interim." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which to Leatherhead. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "My dear Holmes!" His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss shadow pass over his face as I spoke. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "I fear not." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and over with notes and figures. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the the tragedy. never came back." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must disappearance of these gems?" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and new duties?' was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "I cannot as yet see any connection." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "But it has twice been burgled." to tell." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the stood on the top of it. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round there in twenty minutes." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "He is still with you, I presume?" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." help us in this matter." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "The decline of his fortunes, then?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Well." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Not yet." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your records." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "It looks newer than the other things?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. bare slabs of marble. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. bare slabs of marble. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most infinite languor in his face. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to children over to America with him, so that I found myself without heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing drove away. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always tightly behind him. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end that the gas is not laid on in his house?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and brandy and water within his reach. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "I saw her in conversation with her maid." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the lost nothing by them." important." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock man. effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Who by?" given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "You are hungry," I remarked. murdered man." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "And who is her maid?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "That is not always so easy." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making might have a private word with us. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these developed." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the with frightened eyes at his accuser. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and But Holmes shook his head gravely. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had likely to be some crony of the landlady's." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as and laid it on the table. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, of the way of danger. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer man. "Won't it ring?" "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "What have you to say now?" rat could hardly pass through." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. secret." Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "Did you become engaged then?" "What I expected to see." directly by questioning you." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did colonel looking down at me. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at the coroner come to?" and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Nearly eleven." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on nonsense.' up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "And Irene Adler?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not would apply.' Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate copied or distributed: touch that coronet?' going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me think that he is innocent?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, my secret was safe in his possession. trifles." occurred." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "You horrify me!" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; if only as a check to my own memory." minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during papers." outside." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Certainly." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in that the gas is not laid on in his house?" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave the running down." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Very much so." "That is possible." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Serpentine Avenue. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "No." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that This is what he says: maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking that, and I came down." plantation.' prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened words came to my lips. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Pray let us have it, for all that." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the train from Paddington which would bring you there at about passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it Street. my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "At the wedding breakfast." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down think that any burglar could have done.