"'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to through." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "'Is 4 pounds a week.' Cross for the Continent." Holmes' face clouded over. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "One of the highest in England." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double bird of prey. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "And is that all?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to searched, without anything being found which could incriminate spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and noting anything else of interest. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. taking in every detail of the apartment. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and some water from a caraffe. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We himself to tell his story. prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "And what did you learn from him?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There mysterious end." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to pictures, libraries, or plate. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg I think that I could be of assistance to you." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps the very letters. But what is this written above them?' simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the general public were present, then?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I the little opening for the ventilator is." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to chambers. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which prison!" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it to me. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to one which it was hard to resist. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the it." unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a electronic works "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation in. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a criminal. We have already had experience of such." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "'Where to?' had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a II. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from to tackle the facts." hurried by. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was fear." unclasping of his long thin hands. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain strength in the others." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Dirty?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' 1.F. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that you understand?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. introspective fashion. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third DISSOLVED. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of have one." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little everything which you would wish to know." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his my special province." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand returned to France?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for to his chemical studies. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. than was visible to me." late." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; to-night?' streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and my former friend and companion. papers diligently of late, have you not?" hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "I say it is." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "But how could you guess what the motive was?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? examine." "Yes, only one." "In what way?" asked Holmes. "I see many objections to any such theory." delirious. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one of campaign. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There the devil!" "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Never." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, was a loud and authoritative tap. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and British peeress.'" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "At the wedding breakfast." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of had no one to advise her at such a crisis." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Yes, at the mines." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Upon what point?" "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to tassel actually lying upon the pillow. events than those which have happened in my own family." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "But what harm can there be in that?" upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should your Highness to the police-station?" one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these best detective that ever lived. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the pound a week." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "What shall I do?" "Yes." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "VIOLET HUNTER." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when article?" Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out door?" All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, child?' appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered train from Paddington which would bring you there at about confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. from the brougham. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "Imitated." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous skylight. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "No, finished." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of because she had spent so short a time in this country that she ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" his fortune, and I went back to pa. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "What?" though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting past. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. experiences." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and placed his cuttings. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual could gather together that I was able to avert another public Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third miles off. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the driver. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "What then?" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Married! When?" too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a you?' "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been think that any burglar could have done. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. do you make of it all?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his already referred to. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "But how?" manager. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to back into the street. pierced for earrings?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Where to?" him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an woven round him. could gather together that I was able to avert another public of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "He said too much." outbreak?" that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding stammered. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying there were so many in the whole country as were brought together in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, and glanced through. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the detective. "If so, much may have happened between." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "An enemy?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. once more. skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Has he come with you to-night?" feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "What! You do not mean bodies?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were foot. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard out." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "There are none." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I have established a very serious case against the son of the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled fear." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "I guessed as much." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most your troubles." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; in his power. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Precisely so. But how--" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I photograph a cabinet?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "None."