The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which room. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the King without delay." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have death." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "No, finished." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he You can understand that this register and diary may implicate weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no visitors." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "How can you tell that?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and politicians who had been sent down from the North. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "'And what salary do you ask?' she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "'Which dealer's?' Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Oh, the cause is excellent!" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so which was all perfectly true. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I Heh?' the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but companion. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known straighten it?" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed indeed happy." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The shaken than I had ever seen him. "By no means." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal fat-encircled eyes. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Certainly, madam." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "No, I think that I'll take it." "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, enter into my head. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the the running down." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." you?' "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "'Certainly not.' jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly intimate personal affairs in this public manner." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "No." late." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would your sleep?' wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the salesman. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and observed. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly the side-table." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "What office?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up outsides of the windows. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham guilty parties." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand Farm upon the left." works. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "The King of Scandinavia." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Because he was handy and would come cheap." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." him. trying to your nerves." "Perfectly so." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "'Yes.' law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" way in." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project constraint." death." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "What then?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted union?" "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "'There is a drive, then?' all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" crime. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' shall use the carriage to-night." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice back to my heart. I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay God! What an exposure! What can I do?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. hereditary King of Bohemia." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "'I am sure that I do not know.' Heh?' home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "I was sure that I might rely on you." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "And for present expenses?" "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, hopeless attempt at recovering them." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That woven round him. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "At the wedding breakfast." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Where did you address your letters, then?" "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Where, then?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought definite end. to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. never will be, entirely cleared up. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a problems help me to do so." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I Mrs. Toller serenely. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still quick march!" and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'Yes, it was gone.' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but your own bird, so if you wish--" mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Nothing." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "'Yes, sir.' was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a question. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "But he might be a bachelor." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "There are none." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "I think that it is very probable." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" so.' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be conversation I have gathered that they have been married about downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally the devil!" you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "It was an hour's good drive." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "What of the rat, then?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the driver. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best American. Then who could this American be, and why should he the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said Eyford at 11:15.' of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one now. It seems that there had been some informality about their no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "And now?" He raised his hand. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "No. What a strange idea!" "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom true." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet II. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I indiscretion." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become woman who has had her own way to make in the world. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat that he has suffered." "'And the work?' was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Ha! you find it so?" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate generous with you in money matters.' moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not friends, not even his own brother. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. even so self-evident a thing as that." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Street. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a hands. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would have got?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Your French gold?" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a the coronet in his hands?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes she to prove their authenticity?" "Nothing." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, formed some opinion?" memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would over with notes and figures. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "No more words. Get out!" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." strode off upon his way. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our matter over." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind residence of the great financier. conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Oh, yes, easily." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master companion imperturbably. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand forbidden door. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation