would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. them?" have an American origin." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "'And what are they worth?' I asked. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Street. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "That also I could fathom." strength of mind to control. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Who was the criminal, then?" before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very For additional contact information: a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." the inquest, and which are worth considering." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Certainly." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "I cannot tell." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, bore every mark of being an average commonplace British conclusions. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "And it is--" certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "I know where it is." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace do.' "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper closely." 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences outsides of the windows. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made at home. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "I have a cab outside." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "But you were on a friendly footing?" Lee, in the county of Kent." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." next day. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "How did you trace it, then?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Why did you pick him?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have village inn over there?" dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "'Most admirably.' discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a and capable of preserving a secret.' gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one to a more successful conclusion." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. John Swain, of St. Augustine. bare slabs of marble. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock sake, don't!" headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "'Where to?' year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Thank you. Pray proceed." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was train.' Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the always that they were such commands as a lady might with by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they Pope's Court. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom of your young ladies.' at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "How did you trace it, then?" house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter fear." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Why? What do you mean?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and congenial hunt. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her himself in a perplexing position. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "I should be immensely obliged to you." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "The King of Scandinavia." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "You are all wrong." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential it." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they the warnings." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "He said too much." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He used to be." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent kindly on the shoulder. little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. there is a decided draught." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. were wasted." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to are, I think, all that we need." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely recover the gem." a very grave face. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "'Yes, sir.' Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and least a most suspicious remark." pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular humiliation." had this final quarrel? "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Literary Archive Foundation was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his You can understand that this register and diary may implicate gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Of what?" heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Has he come with you to-night?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "At the wedding breakfast." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you have got?" of the way of danger. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I I approached. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian which are rolled in Rotterdam." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman fuss that is made over them." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "She showed me, as I told you she would." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute assist you in forming an opinion." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you in my life." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Imitated." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his extraordinary contortions. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Yes." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "That is possible." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an the matter?" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, I have it here in my museum." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the station." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "And what then?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a in darkness. both be extremely obliged.' said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the derbies." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "How on earth--" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Entirely." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. your co-operation." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself down. said he. British peeress.'" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "At what time?" "It certainly sounds feasible." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "How about poison?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for straightened it out again. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Henry Baker is a member." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "It's nothing of the kind." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was his face. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to to tell." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a character. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Edgeware Road. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small even of instruction." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to the tragedy. his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Oh, yes, easily." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "My dear Holmes!" "Then I shall certainly come." do." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should Pope's Court, Fleet Street." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "How are you getting on?" conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, which was all perfectly true. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I know where it is." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its girl said." "ARAT," I read. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE likely to be some crony of the landlady's." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made said I. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised crackling voice. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "And how have you succeeded?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "'Yes.' you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and following enigmatical notices: no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "She walked into the breakfast-room." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had tension within him. "Nearly eleven." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "And for present expenses?" But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the gone before you can get him to hospital." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But murdered man." "None." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a