those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little his grey eyes. "In the cells." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more the inner apartment." "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "'I have already given you my word.' Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the towards the blaze. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a yards of it?' "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were gives a meaning to it." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "It must be recovered." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' key of the affair now." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair I took the paper from him and read as follows: the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," where we are going." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a sofa. This way, please!" business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The intimate personal affairs in this public manner." the ceiling. "Nothing." became a certainty. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to unclasping of his long thin hands. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Tired-looking or fresh?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I bonnet, and went out." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and retorted upon me, and I on you." prison!" the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my himself. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend horse could go." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You prepare for the new role I have to play." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all read over the extraordinary announcement. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some there was no need for father to know." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER fasten all the windows?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Come in!" said he. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "That's no good." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally to that open window." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of face and glided from the room. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Deserted you?" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had did not hear it also.' rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate chamber." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, said he. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "But his lameness?" the ceiling. to talk it over. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "But I am all in the dark." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my a monotonous occupation." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private But Holmes shook his head gravely. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to to a more successful conclusion." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at fattened it expressly for you.' being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to then?" tell him that I know him to be innocent." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Mary, has deserted me." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the had picked up in the wood. and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the before the coroner and the police-court." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "I will get her to show me." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and I think that I could be of assistance to you." "I will get her to show me." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. third from London." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "What then?" intimate personal affairs in this public manner." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of system of imprisonment?" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors assist you in forming an opinion." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable you came in." him. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. examine." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, this man was intellectual?" himself to tell his story. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "I say that I have solved it." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out anything to a woman, for she would have her way." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "'You cannot say what it was?' "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he disappearance of the bride.'" at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully electronic works "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that was a perfect sample of the class. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the least a most suspicious remark." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands take the flies, but not before." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Well." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "'Certainly,' I answered. "I cannot tell." sparkled upon his finger. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Yes." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to wedding?" calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, is so. I know all about McCarthy." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "None." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her strength of mind to control. is now desirous of getting those letters back." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of appointment with me for six o'clock?" the stable lane now." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" when your master had gone out." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the do you make of it all?" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Quite so." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, himself in a perplexing position. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, "I should like to see him very much." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the Foundation "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Was there a secret marriage?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. the coronet in his hands?" "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his reach." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about what is your own theory as to what took place?" Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite matters immensely." "The knees of his trousers." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all to tell." Surrey." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention pressing in one house as in another. been deceived." annoyance, but no jest. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; neither fascinating nor artistic." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "What then?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "And who is her maid?" Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless observed. "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the your bag." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as it." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of remarked. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out Farm upon the left." that "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he searched, without anything being found which could incriminate appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the recover the gem." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a any more." "Very murderous indeed." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain is worth.' Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country answer." over with notes and figures. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." speckled band?" furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to not, dad?" she asked. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did room. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his standing smiling on the door-step. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and cost them two and thirty pounds." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual I have it here in my museum." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called http://gutenberg.net/license). thirty. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "Witness: I must still refuse. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman away to you." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every horse could go." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "She showed me, as I told you she would." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. some water from a caraffe. an introduction to him?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole both be extremely obliged.' charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white maiden herself was most instructive." kindly on the shoulder. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he some terrible trap for her." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will