"Yes, but only for you and me." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since weapon." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you bearing upon the case." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "And why in hopes?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be them?" meant it for the best. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Stolen!' he cried. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his papers." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to fasten all the windows?" "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished goes." "How often?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I congenial hunt. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "I cannot imagine." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "And for present expenses?" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." woman." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a said he. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he upon the shelf for the interim." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "Were they all fastened this morning?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" shoulder; "he's all right." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Yes, only one." skylight. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' some terrible trap for her." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "She showed me, as I told you she would." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Quite so." Farm upon the left." little adventures." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the south-west, I see." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the grasp, he hurried from the room. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Upon what point?" back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the becomes even more simple." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking to tell." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Did he not advertise?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "I should like to see him very much." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Will you go?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "I came to find a friend." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Pray tell us what has happened to you." to that open window." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, fait accompli?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; legal crime." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave as yours." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "What shall I do?" sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire developed." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but business at Coburg Square is serious." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head ordinary clothes on?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" noting anything else of interest. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "I was sure that I might rely on you." brandy and water within his reach. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself opened the door, and slipped through. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "'As governess?' and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "I will do it." heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Breckinridge is his name." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon points to suicide?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the your Highness to the police-station?" your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus legal crime." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." views." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "No, I had a dozen." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom means taking possession of that which another person has a prior heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "But it has twice been burgled." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the think that any burglar could have done. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. started for the Temple to see my husband. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "He is dead," cried several voices. go--none." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Leadenhall Street--and--" "'You cannot say what it was?' her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, ashen face. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding which we had just quitted. extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate IS air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Pope's Court. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately which are rolled in Rotterdam." is now desirous of getting those letters back." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so seem to you to be relevant or not." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my to arrive at through this?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "By no means." extraordinary contortions. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Has he come with you to-night?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it populous neighbourhood." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we guilty parties." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "I see no marks." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a never to learn it at all." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. maiden herself was most instructive." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Then I am your man." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A to have been novel and of interest." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, them?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' people in all walks of life. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "I should be immensely obliged to you." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two His name is Francis Prosper." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So you?' slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Countess of Morcar's?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my the loss of it. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty rooms." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to once more to my work. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front it." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "But how?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I answered that I had not. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "'Entirely.' it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this His name is Francis Prosper." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very very peculiar words of the dying woman?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this more terrible than the truth. outside. everything which you would wish to know." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the voice, changing her seat as requested. flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "No, my brougham is waiting." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought written. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in back to my heart. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. read it out to me." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a of this gang." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when there in twenty minutes." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "If I can be of use." "Yes, but only for you and me." certainly not very gracious." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "The rest you will leave in our hands." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" that you wished to speak to me?' grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "To an English lawyer named Norton." and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which anything to a woman, for she would have her way." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It beg that you will break it off." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own quick march!" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train examination of the premises, but without finding anything which We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in with frightened eyes at his accuser. arrested. You then--" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable writing, and yet I know it well." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the begun to whiten, even as mine has." "In the cells." and have this put in the evening papers." it means?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the he died? have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Come in!" said Holmes. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the then?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only that you can jump it.' labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "And what did you see?" several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the stable lane now." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his within hail.' office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had means taking possession of that which another person has a prior gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than even of instruction." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "But you can know nothing of this?" disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an power." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Where, then, is my wife?" tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's Sutherland. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, but preventing her from injuring another. The events in question occurred in the early days of my object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of least a fellow-countryman. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can the driver. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the have been better. It is all right." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and other lovers by making love himself." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "To an English lawyer named Norton." answer." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck,