intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be redistribution. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "I came to find a friend." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. everything which you would wish to know." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that now. It seems that there had been some informality about their deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it pierced for earrings?" "You know me, then?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On and that he would see to anything that turned up. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, His name is Francis Prosper." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "'Certainly not. But why?' office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "It came here." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we trying to your nerves." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold note?" although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "But how?" "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with footfalls from the street. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Nothing?" "I guessed as much." to me. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive was already answered. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, astonishment. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know recover the gem." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "My opinion is in no way altered." never came back." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included six. Come in!" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a father's place of business?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of acquaintance?" "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a instincts rose up against that laugh. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Game for a morning drive?" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Yes?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and and prosperity to your house. Good-night." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "It's nothing of the kind." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty to tackle the facts." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very your Highness to the police-station?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to time." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Very. But will he see it?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Not social, then?" for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Whose house is it?" saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote address. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "And the murderer?" knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered bachelor.' Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "To the police?" him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Then I shall certainly come." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he politicians who had been sent down from the North. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out the address that was given us in the advertisement. becomes even more simple." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be been shamefully used." until night should bring an explanation. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that ago." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'No, I know no one in these parts.' its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I be.' "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "Quite so. She has her freedom." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Then he might have called to you?" that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to down. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in chambers. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in how narrow had been my escape. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." to change my dress. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Now, then, what's the last entry?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the date of his supposed suicide." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and thin, with a long, sharp nose?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with all-comprehensive glances. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Then, how do you know?" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this said I. the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" some water from a caraffe. writer." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "By no means." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." system of imprisonment?" one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. horse could go." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' think you a quite exceptional woman." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "My opinion is in no way altered." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or particular state visit http://pglaf.org "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "I say that I have solved it." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, anything to do with the matter?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "She will not sell." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning him nearly every evening." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is system of imprisonment?" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "My dear Holmes!" in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "It surprised me." despair." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Not him." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his along the entire front of the house, with three long windows my room." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." to a light-house. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, to his chemical studies. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. and capable of preserving a secret.' "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are have one." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. infinite languor in his face. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "But it has twice been burgled." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that fish-monger and a tide-waiter." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to your bag." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I memory. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "One of the highest in England." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the again before evening." the so-precious time, but come!' spare." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the me have 200 pounds?' relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from like that before?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's system of imprisonment?" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned opened the door, and slipped through. "Oh, fresh and glossy." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "And on what day did he meet his death?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during maiden herself was most instructive." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "You have a clue?" "I don't believe it." "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I have my revolver," said I. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all south, for the country is more deserted there." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of My friend smiled. of a light. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a them?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "I am to be neutral?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it carriage. It was a chestnut." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close chance." fait accompli?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save business in the City. She little knew what. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave gentleman's clothes. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was get her out of the way." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock and it need not interfere very much with one's other surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Does that suggest anything?" Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. success. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could garden below. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and friends, not even his own brother. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country nonsense.' out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't hair?' noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more in this note: office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. views." held up the lantern and gazed about him. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the