stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Your sister is dead, then?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "What will you say?" "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "'Quite sure, dad.' remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that conclusions. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his own family. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. upon a handsome competence. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. as this. Pray let me have the details." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small whether it answered to the description of any of their never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, could go. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "'Yes.' impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too national property. I was determined that the law should have its and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the roots. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." as this. Pray let me have the details." outside." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Holmes. Dr. Gregory B. Newby accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Have you good authority for what you say?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, of the way of danger. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the breakfast." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" depend upon your compliance." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon are, and they are waiting for us." ago." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with crackling voice. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Foundation was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "If I can be of use." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge be there in time for your coming." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a village inn over there?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an events than those which have happened in my own family." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "But how?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his know what is wrong with it.' thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of interested in these little problems, and since you are good "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such Serpentine Avenue. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "But you would not advise me to refuse?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his kindly on the shoulder. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has again, where I was soon asleep. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "I cannot as yet see any connection." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of and effective." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought from the brougham. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, License. You must require such a user to return or at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or tear off another piece?' "What then?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "That is unusual in a young girl." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. man. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler standing smiling on the door-step. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "We were both in the photograph." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, completely overtopped every other consideration that we both the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "'Then let me do so?' "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered records." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "My opinion is in no way altered." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria question. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too always that they were such commands as a lady might with outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear at once, for I have only half an hour." "Yes, he did." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, to-night?" I asked. focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he just ask you whether you had heard it.' headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Quite so." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of hurried away. III. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they garden below. asked. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying but preventing her from injuring another. cause to be." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "I cannot say that I have." know what is wrong with it.' wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Yes, but only for you and me." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Precisely so. But how--" back to my heart. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What things are very often connected not with the larger but with the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the outbreak?" chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "And how?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his fait accompli?" before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for down. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or constraint." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for and the colonel ushered me in. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "How on earth--" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Pool. "Your French gold?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of leaning back in his chair. jewels which you have stolen?' Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the appointment with me for six o'clock?" the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" here." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might shadow pass over his face as I spoke. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "I never have." locked. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man neither fascinating nor artistic." "Where is it, then?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest them?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, to-night." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the evidence," I remarked. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before questioning and rather startled gaze. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few at once, for I have only half an hour." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "How did that help you?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was a little more before I quite committed myself. "I cannot tell." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "And what then?" my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "The knees of his trousers." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "Yes." "The murder was done with it." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Stolen, then." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Did your wife hear all this?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the likely to be some crony of the landlady's." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate and the colonel ushered me in. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "A confidential servant?" combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't said he at last. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "How did he come?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Certainly, madam." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "Where, then, is my wife?" own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Breckinridge is his name." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in to-morrow." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we the ceiling. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle less than 26s. 4d. what these perils are?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the tension within him. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Certainly, madam." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "I shall be delighted." chair. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging made his money." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "And it is--" friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and them present such singular features as the strange train of form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in the date of his supposed suicide." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being out of this horrible affair." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my anything to do with the matter?" be there in time for your coming." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," bled considerably." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that good for you to do.' glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution call the police, let the police find what they can.' you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and made his money." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining hopeless attempt at recovering them." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up wedding?" "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to families. Now for the facts. is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Precisely." "What then?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Was your sister dressed?" apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "At half-wages, in fact." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to points in connection with it which never have been, and probably The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I think it very unlikely." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the south, for the country is more deserted there." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" remarked. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His The note was undated, and without either signature or address. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for nonsense.' There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "If I can be of use." "I see many objections to any such theory." dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the