believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "I assure you that I am in your hands." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one which our visitor detailed to us. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. residence of the great financier. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss held up the lantern and gazed about him. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police chance at all." we went to search for him, face downward in a little The summons was a brief and urgent one. know all about it," he snarled. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Yes." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its her also." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Yes." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence arrangements." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came cup of tea. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you Clair, of Lee." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest and files of the old papers, following the future career of every friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter vanished into the darkness. sparkled upon his finger. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, photograph?" fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have directors, with the result that you have seen." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There horse could go." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and such attractions and accomplishments?' foot. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "And the cigar-holder?" education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. case before our client came into the room." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Come in!" said Holmes. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has of your young ladies.' "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged Mary, has deserted me." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." his fortune, and I went back to pa. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless matter." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Married! When?" any little problem which you may submit to me." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." throat." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "What office?" "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Pope's Court. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "My stepfather's business papers." fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "You have carte blanche." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Yes. He waved his hands." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the pierced for earrings?" caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "I beg pardon." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "I am following you closely," I answered. "Then you may be so with me." have been better. It is all right." matters immensely." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "'You cannot say what it was?' were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your taking in every detail of the apartment. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Has he come with you to-night?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are unclasping of his long thin hands. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may suggested at once that there must be a communication between the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is his cane at the bell-pull. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and this poor creature." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own Sutherland. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention from you?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to himself in a perplexing position. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "She will not sell." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Yes." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we do.' would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and goes." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should past. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "She told me to ask you." I approached. furiously. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Then what has happened to him?" the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the must be when I saw the door open.' be best to do. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Why, what do you mean?" "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." you." "They are typewritten," I remarked. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the His name is Francis Prosper." "But what will you do?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. of the way of danger. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' are, and they are waiting for us." trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "But you would not advise me to refuse?" as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out certainly not very gracious." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, a good hundred miles off by now." light and attacked it." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." his huge brown hands. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "It is half-past ten now." when you have done it." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "It is very kind of you." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight weigh very heavily upon my conscience." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "She showed me, as I told you she would." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had enter Dr. Roylott's room." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "It may not come to that," said Holmes. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the IS wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the woven round him. or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my sparkled upon his finger. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I should like to see him very much." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "I will, Miss Turner." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "What! You do not mean bodies?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" go back?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. gbnewby@pglaf.org soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman quick march!" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "And Miss Sutherland?" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It your Highness to the police-station?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love once more for Briony Lodge. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid flock.' "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last south, for the country is more deserted there." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I am to be neutral?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "To an English lawyer named Norton." We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of it? Did I buy the geese off you?" thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers important." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing investigation." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" went to the Alpha were town bred." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the the driver. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a later, upon the night of May 2nd." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the them?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and something of him before." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow weigh very heavily upon my conscience." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and laugh and put his lips to my ear. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that corner of the building. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment papers." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed bled considerably." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it