Surrey." Cross for the Continent." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am there were so many in the whole country as were brought together propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' voice. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are ways including including checks, online payments and credit card skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Sutherland?" A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of official police." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in you?' Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss forecastle of an emigrant ship. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria once more for Briony Lodge. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face particular state visit http://pglaf.org have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Do you receive much company?" he asked. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as will find little credit to be gained out of this case." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature said he. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with interest. They are important, you understand, without being self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client has little to do with my story." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each about here speaks of his kindness to him." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what out of this horrible affair." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box friend's singular character. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the closely." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it vault. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "That you are never beaten." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "My last client of the sort was a king." disappearance of these gems?" "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Pray let us have it, for all that." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of of campaign. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "How did you trace it, then?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. what do you think they found in the pockets?" faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'Certainly,' I answered. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Whose house is it?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. nice household for a young lady." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Yes, certainly." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. was a perfect sample of the class. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a taking in every detail of the apartment. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I awaited us upon the table. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of people in all walks of life. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I cannot imagine." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to and prosperity to your house. Good-night." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon and no precautions can guard against." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, locked. gentleman's clothes. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "But the mystery?" three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you me. You must get home instantly and act." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in I approached. you want, then?' entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. geese which you supplied to the Alpha." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "And the murderer?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a conduct the inquiry." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps upon a handsome competence. bears upon the case?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their weigh very heavily upon my conscience." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had be best to do. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "ARAT," I read. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me brought there to personate someone, and the real person is carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "Not in the least." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of went to the Alpha were town bred." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. this unhappy family?" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "I am in hopes that she does." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a guilty parties." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still to that open window." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Yes?" some place of shelter and let the county police know what has him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Were they all fastened this morning?" A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "How did that help you?" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when some water from a caraffe. Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love at my own good fortune. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "And I to find an enemy." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "And what then?" "I cannot imagine." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the of his shoulders. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. place of silver." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and was feeling which was the fattest.' pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible business?" "Then how many are there?" a monotonous occupation." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Then I shall certainly come." individual and becomes the badge of a society." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few pressing in one house as in another. shaken than I had ever seen him. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, weary and pale-looking. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Proceed, then." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Yes, there are nearly always some there." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "I have solved it." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for way in." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." child?' and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey guilty one." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so desk. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any careless servant girl?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "I am all attention, madam." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by ordinary clothes on?" I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't his cane at the bell-pull. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Yes, but only for you and me." Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock did not hear it also.' "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Yes, it was twisted." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely to-night?" I asked. "That sounds a little paradoxical." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction mysterious end." redistribution. never came back." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from was a lad." "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the occupations.' children over to America with him, so that I found myself without dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in confronted him. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "'Tell me all about it,' said I. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered are windows in it, of course?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had way in everything. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I fishes. too. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and galvanised. "Then I shall certainly come." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "There is the writing." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle could go. "Yes." "I was mad--insane." it." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Oh, the cause is excellent!" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." examine." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very to his chemical studies. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "You think so, too?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him shoulder; "he's all right." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small should be so warm over such a trifle." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get bonnet, and went out." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and daring than any effort of the imagination." straighten it?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Project Gutenberg-tm works. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method felt the room to be a little close.' their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign maiden herself was most instructive." only touch the interest." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Sutherland. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "My stepfather's business papers." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Won't it ring?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to strength." even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "It surprised me." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of to arrive at through this?" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Dr. Becher's." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "What then?" it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "And what did you learn from him?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to becomes even more simple." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Witness: I must still refuse. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds your bag." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "No, thank goodness, she did not." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Never." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in tail." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the it." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "I should wish to." "That is easily got." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small have I gained?" screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and weapon." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering enough to aid us in our search." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose we went to search for him, face downward in a little having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked