"'What then?' I asked. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or man. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at ceremony." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. Where does the thing come from?' how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did me where it went to?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, wall." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, occurred." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of dead, shall be safe with us." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to their singular warning or token before them when starting upon discontent upon his features. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk to-morrow." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "I have solved it." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's little trying to do so much typewriting?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the quite distinctive." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Yes." "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" to change my dress. "Stolen, then." never will be, entirely cleared up. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the allusion to a rat. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards country, and eventually married, without anyone having a The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said returned to France?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "You horrify me." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through weary and pale-looking. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. six. Come in!" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Well." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. is worth.' "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "And your mother is alive?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Munro.' "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in see me here to avoid scandal." as he remarks, very much against the son." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Not particularly." "But your client--" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that companion quietly. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away observed. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I of Fenchurch Street." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "But what harm can there be in that?" Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now burst out into a roar of laughter. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "Texas, I think." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "You are hungry," I remarked. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too several quiet little villages up there." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and man. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Did your wife hear all this?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel allusion to a rat. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two been shamefully used." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination name is different." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely depend upon your compliance." "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, back to my heart. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was Serpentine Avenue. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, hour." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Why? What do you mean?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable think you a quite exceptional woman." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one their singular warning or token before them when starting upon you in yours." dead, shall be safe with us." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of that he will be back before evening." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "10th. John Swain cleared. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have papers diligently of late, have you not?" hard-headed British jury." "And your father? Did you tell him?" "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to him nearly every evening." washing it down with a long draught of water. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "In which, sir?" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must simple cases which are so extremely difficult." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has eavesdroppers?' "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I redistribution. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout fashion which was peculiar to him. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "And that is--" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight more terrible than the truth. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "And the murderer?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Holmes rather sternly. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that not as remarkable as your advertisement." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements that I can to serve you." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated was feeling which was the fattest.' figure." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I shall most certainly do so." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I ways including including checks, online payments and credit card have got?" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "I will do it." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of sake, don't!" unkempt, staring out at me. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' will be renamed. "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "I answered that I had not. "But what harm can there be in that?" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "But how?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly discontent upon his features. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in chance." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "To ruin me." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his to where he stood hid behind the curtain. but preventing her from injuring another. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be wedding?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but developed." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' fishes. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "'About the same.' have established a very serious case against the son of the Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be IS intimate personal affairs in this public manner." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet round with crates and massive boxes. call it cruel." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; with frightened eyes at his accuser. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "I beg pardon." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it row." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "Absolutely none." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of other means.' possible that we could bring him back to her? process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure entirely devoid of interest." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. hard-headed British jury." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "In San Francisco, a year ago." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "You saw the ventilator, too?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not golden eyeglasses. main points of my analysis." "Quite so." he died? he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers reach." this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest III. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I will try. What is it?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" ourselves in the office." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom charge against him will break down." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Why did you pick him?" This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I know what is wrong with it.' The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, business." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "I know where it is." matter over." the little opening for the ventilator is." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad papers diligently of late, have you not?" stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." certainly do as you advise." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "No." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, own family. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable room. "'Certainly,' I answered. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be fatally injured? Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but an introduction to him?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." Where does the thing come from?' "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Henry Baker is a member." Countess of Morcar's?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "The landlord of the Alpha." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "'Oh, no.' I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of acted in my house last night?" "Then, how do you know?" "A confidential servant?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Certainly." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. certainly not very gracious." "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "It is no ordinary one." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from is worth.' and inquire as to the address." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few and your relations to her." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and back into the street. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just long narrative. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my Mary, has deserted me." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "How did that help you?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these