remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Thank you. Pray proceed." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." congenial hunt. questionable one." hair?' standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong manager. walking." and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' in the dead of the night?' I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms enough to aid us in our search." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, voice, changing her seat as requested. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Frequently." certainly do as you advise." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I fled together." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in detained." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed delirious. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were was already answered. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward imbecility!" he cried. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and carriage. It was a chestnut." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'There is a drive, then?' up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "It came here." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing and that he would see to anything that turned up. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without foresight and the moral retrogression?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "'What do you call purely nominal?' - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, guilty parties." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles bearing upon the case." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "And Miss Sutherland?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. extraordinary contortions. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "This photograph!" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one whole matter to your consideration." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "My dear Holmes!" II. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no charged with?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "But he might be a bachelor." "Ten will be early enough." me upon any point which I do not make clear." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the reach." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should him to be an active member of the medical profession." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you the dangers which encompass me." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." voice. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the orange pips. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all all?" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Eyford at 11:15.' I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet very peculiar words of the dying woman?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the business?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely Mrs. Toller serenely. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been in your London, you will know that the office of the company is furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very flock.' garden below. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." a monotonous occupation." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler bird I ate is country bred." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "No, but the enclosure is." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "The landlord of the Alpha." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a again." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the quickly through a disagreeable task. what these perils are?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Seven!" I answered. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we indeed which he could not unravel. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the a few minutes he said that it would be all right. upon the shelf for the interim." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the lamp. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able putting in the horse. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is strength of mind to control. results." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair and all of them with the keenest interest. writer." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "And when will you call?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Of what?" six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then against a man in the prime of life?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he see a sister of mine apply for." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from of it with the greatest attention. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past bare slabs of marble. mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "'No, I know no one in these parts.' very peculiar words of the dying woman?" of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "And how in the world did you find them?" "Really! You surprise me." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "'A dozen yards or so.' through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but child?' acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment and laid it on the table. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I absolutely follow my advice in every respect." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes certainly not very gracious." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, place, I think that there is good ground to think that the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "That is easily got." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and to that open window." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "About a month then." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "And for present expenses?" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "But your client--" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off whole matter to your consideration." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "That's no good." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "You have compromised yourself seriously." back to my heart. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will you for a few hours?" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "And why in hopes?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "And how did you find out?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a your room." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "The murder was done with it." might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "But I have heard all that you have heard." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I outbreak?" gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "I should wish to." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and the dangers which encompass me." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "But you can know nothing of this?" "And how did you find out?" hand, madam?" collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "What will you say?" "No." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Perhaps I have." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Entirely." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about you." murdered man." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between my little problems." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own empty. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence events, Mr. Windibank!" only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. four million human beings all jostling each other within the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me as he folded up the epistle. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. companion imperturbably. upon a handsome competence. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair stood on the top of it. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Is he quiet?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon the coronet at all injured?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Then you may be so with me." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make best detective that ever lived. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign you?" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent swore that no one else had been in the front room during the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for looking up at the numbers of the houses." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you signal between you and your father? "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,'