have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "How many? I don't know." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "None." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." you, my dear young lady?' "No legal papers or certificates?" "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small 'please.'" "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to know all about it," he snarled. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change is worth.' "Will you bet, then?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the it means?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" the stable lane now." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous brain must have something in it." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Where, then, is my wife?" Count Von Kramm." in the port of London." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "An accident, I presume?" both be extremely obliged.' father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet introspective fashion. if I call to-morrow?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life the station." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish in him." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, directly by questioning you." "You think so, too?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a the very letters. But what is this written above them?' round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I case-book, which he consulted. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, have had none more fantastic than this." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "It certainly sounds feasible." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your already referred to. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, key of the affair now." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Well." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving morning." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "VIOLET HUNTER." three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "I will try. What is it?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "And the murderer?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a whatever might befall. villagers almost as much as their master. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "My opinion is in no way altered." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in should be taken.' enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to later, upon the night of May 2nd." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I forecastle of an emigrant ship. "You have but to name it." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. a good hundred miles off by now." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. roused himself from his reverie. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an so.' Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." which our visitor detailed to us. "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a them?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord trifles." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard photograph?" "I am in hopes that she does." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling the nursery. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a lost his Christmas dinner." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about the devil!" "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "The Cedars?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your made his money." have got?" at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is conclusions. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right discontent upon his features. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were hair?' bearing upon the case." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out with you?" rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will his face which made him a very different person to the round, little trying to do so much typewriting?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his six. Come in!" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and of the way of danger. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Serpentine Avenue. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our think you a quite exceptional woman." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom round with crates and massive boxes. me have 200 pounds?' that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason me, and I could not think that his explanation of the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "The gentleman I describe." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "One of the highest in England." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "That was it, sir." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "It missed him, then?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, Pope's Court. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Then, as to money?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, for the market.' aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be putting in the horse. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Henry Baker is a member." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "You have the photograph?" "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "The landlord of the Alpha." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the have had none more fantastic than this." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "And your father? Did you tell him?" calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 here and I will read it to you: and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. I nodded to show that I had heard. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "What is it, then--a fire?" "How did that help you?" glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly any more." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you looking up at the numbers of the houses." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough a suggestive one." "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is purpose of examination. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will papers must be those that are destroyed.' trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because heavily into it. "'Where to?' the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had to talk it over. "Not particularly." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he own family. "My dear Holmes!" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the to a light-house. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and been deceived." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became James Windibank. Voilà tout!" sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that away to you." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. mysterious business." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Pray let us have it, for all that." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I coat-tails." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "'Where to?' "I will try. What is it?" puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside of the efforts of the United States government and of the better so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." I approached. "What! Had he lost his wife?" inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "How on earth--" side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "I warn you that they are very incomplete." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp never came back." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of affair. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. any more." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly most interesting one." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each know that the truth is known." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most breakfast." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing confronted him. you do it in twenty minutes!' appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "'I have heard so.' "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "No, I had a dozen." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he away to you." more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the said he. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Surrey." you want, then?' "Where, then?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the station." conduct the inquiry." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' everything which you would wish to know." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his views." and it need not interfere very much with one's other assist you in forming an opinion." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "His face fell immediately. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Where, then?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an hour?' face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Watson," he said cordially. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover green of the new foliage. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Yes, I have one waiting." Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Which surely he restored to their owner?" the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so at my own good fortune. existence." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was generous with you in money matters.' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must results." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Tired-looking or fresh?" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when better in every way that they should make their position a little were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "He said too much." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "What steps will you take?" I asked. your bag." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the weighed down with some great anxiety. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your go--none." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had of receipt of the work. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. do.' "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society note?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "I cannot imagine." "Nothing?" mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with