way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house to tackle the facts." "'A dozen yards or so.' individual and becomes the badge of a society." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. confronted him. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "I cannot as yet see any connection." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'In my own bureau.' "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger laugh and put his lips to my ear. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "And help." "I will do it." gives a meaning to it." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon locked." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Then I am your man." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "'Never,' said I. "And you thought he was pulled back?" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before burst out into a roar of laughter. "I would give my fortune to have them back." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes His name is Francis Prosper." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Very much so." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Were they all fastened this morning?" into the bag, and made for the door. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about to-night?' "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, my secret was safe in his possession. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler at once, for I have only half an hour." "She told me to ask you." house for five minutes.' Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "The Coroner: What do you mean? be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Watson," he said cordially. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "The Coroner: What do you mean? deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Stoke Moran?" said he. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it bill, which interests me deeply." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at something of him before." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a than was visible to me." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two visitors." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general drove away. "Was your sister dressed?" season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined the coronet in his hand?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there Pope's Court. murdered man." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Not in the least." brain must have something in it." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the lips." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "So I am. Very much so." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened Have you good authority for what you say?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "What is it, then--a fire?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, II. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it emerged. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Here?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I said Mr. Holder. IS "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any "And help." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "None." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had your co-operation." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is emerged. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he round and wave him away like that.' and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves people don't know." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "In the cells." down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "He slept on the premises." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Were they all fastened this morning?" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Deserted you?" posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Entirely." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "This photograph!" their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would IS determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "And that is--" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony coat-tails." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "'What, the red-headed man?' assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it present." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "In which, sir?" was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Dark enough and sinister enough." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She allusion to a rat. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet useful material for showing traces. The double line a little at home. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, chill to my heart. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "BALLARAT." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." to a light-house. of them has the shutters up.' "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "In the cells." impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some you." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, child?' my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Holmes' thin, eager face. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no upon the sideboard." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "One of his hands." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with there." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide few hundred pounds.' "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" towards the blaze. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Very. But will he see it?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "'Where to?' overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. outsides of the windows. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police late." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered notes," he said. instituted." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, past. Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, disappearance of the bride.'" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing upon an income of about 60 pounds." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Then, how do you know?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught him, that man would not have given me such complete information characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set was a perfect sample of the class. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. matters immensely." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask outbreak?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. them present such singular features as the strange train of man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there and prosperity to your house. Good-night." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland rooms." the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards some city in a dream. indiscretion." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "Of what day?" violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Pray let us have it, for all that." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an 1.E.9. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. case-book, which he consulted. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Where to?" corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." that, and I came down." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I bearing upon the case." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the recover the gem." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" me. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We 1.E.9. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the union?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "'Yes, it was gone.' ways of our fellow-men." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only Clair, of Lee." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the cheerful." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended answered with a sidelong glance. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Pool. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the the roots. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, good for you to do.' from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or stammered. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when like gravel from a pit.' his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come locked." "Well?" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "At the wedding breakfast." carpenter." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" hereditary King of Bohemia." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. my special province." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your as yours." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up returning from some small jollification and was making his way that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her good-night and bustled off upon her way. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his and the church but not where the lady lived." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how as he folded up the epistle. "I will get her to show me." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "You have the photograph?" "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is she to prove their authenticity?" "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "Get out!" said he. and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, so far?" metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "I am armed." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" child?' I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which delighted to hear it," he said. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with unprofitable." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly,