power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's child?' posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I What do you deduce from it?" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Very. But will he see it?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. to affect your life." quickly through a disagreeable task. During two years I have had three consultations and one small How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which business?" lamp in his hand. the coroner come to?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, it right.' your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the this Miss Turner." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "It looks newer than the other things?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and tell me that you intended to go into harness." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the down. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your written. tapping his fingers upon the table. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" quick march!" "Is he quiet?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Ample." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB tension within him. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "None." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, seen the man in the road." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at furiously. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "Yes." helping a boy to put up the shutters. our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be four million human beings all jostling each other within the quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is what do you think they found in the pockets?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my presented more singular features than that which was associated had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "Certainly." letters?" "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." the morning and make my own way in the world.' grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, What do you deduce from it?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the to arrive at through this?" in darkness. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending Pool. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "But how could you guess what the motive was?" vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a burst into a hearty fit of laughter. laugh and put his lips to my ear. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again not fit the lock." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "How long did she speak to this Alice?" The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "My opinion is in no way altered." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel least a fellow-countryman. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. posted to-day." "You are all wrong." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to there were so many in the whole country as were brought together stammered. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is chill to my heart. "I would pay ten." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would once more to my work. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On brandy and water within his reach. society." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you written. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." to miss it." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my asked. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley rat could hardly pass through." But Holmes shook his head gravely. several quiet little villages up there." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way night.' said he. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." ran thus: hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room outsides of the windows. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the the inner apartment." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "Yes?" Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry back alive. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, man. I know him from the photograph." "The gentleman I describe." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was side. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon shadow pass over his face as I spoke. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' think that he is innocent?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and helping a boy to put up the shutters. "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," seem to you to be relevant or not." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it remarked. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day to tackle the facts." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." posted to-day." of Mr. Rucastle's." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I you." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." redistribution. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked you in yours." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever You can understand that this register and diary may implicate girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Pray let us have it, for all that." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question your room." "Yes?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter conversation I have gathered that they have been married about simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each and wait." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A trifles." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he your own bird, so if you wish--" charged with?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Quite so. She has her freedom." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Why serious?" "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to The King stared at him in amazement. "10th. John Swain cleared. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Where to?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Young McCarthy must be got off, however." started for the Temple to see my husband. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Ah, but I was recommended to you." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. grasp, he hurried from the room. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "'About the same.' "Then how many are there?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." yourselves in at night?" "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Nothing." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "And for present expenses?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "What shall I do?" "What, then?" drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to correct than the official force." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite country, and eventually married, without anyone having a The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no could not have written that. It is the German who is so pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the head. So long, then!" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears invisible to me," I remarked. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "You have it, sir, just as it happened." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," your troubles." since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an train from Paddington which would bring you there at about extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not to-morrow." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "But his left-handedness." once more. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the absorbing." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there will be renamed. infinite languor in his face. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance garden below. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "And you thought he was pulled back?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand been." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into such attractions and accomplishments?' determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by are, I think, all that we need." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Then how many are there?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "The landlord of the Alpha." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." I am not easy in my mind about them." unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies the best of training." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Could he throw no light?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, in a friendly supper." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The himself to tell his story. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "No, finished." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my tapping his fingers upon the table. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his of Fenchurch Street." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, my friend's incisive reasoning.