revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate troubles have been weighing upon his mind. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, will find little credit to be gained out of this case." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "It is to him that this trophy belongs." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses the morning and make my own way in the world.' clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the stable lane now." of the way of danger. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "So it appears." the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Pray do so." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "That is easily got." "Not him." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'Very good.' "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "You did not overhear what they said?" skylight. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "What?" Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the your co-operation." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this extraordinary contortions. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls ways of our fellow-men." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things outside." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Precisely." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'A dozen yards or so.' One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was nights." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Literary Archive Foundation deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and society." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "'Which dealer's?' the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, in the port of London." "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "Murdered?" which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "I would give my fortune to have them back." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might out of this horrible affair." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't someone who had been in Australia." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham married her." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "When did it break out?" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "I know where it is." strength in the others." "In which, sir?" "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that everything which you would wish to know." your only hope of safety." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a maiden herself was most instructive." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at views." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself there!' much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves interest. They are important, you understand, without being "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom lips." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position there when the Rucastles went away." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "How on earth--" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his his grey eyes. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a was used.' acted in my house last night?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "On the contrary, this is the right side." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that never came back." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I have solved it." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. head. So long, then!" "No, finished." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "And Irene Adler?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Henry Baker is a member." "How did you deduce the select?" desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "I guessed as much." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" beyond words. "It missed him, then?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have him. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it tassel actually lying upon the pillow. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "That also I could fathom." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible come either from the window or the door. My attention was "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very she to prove their authenticity?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a cigars in their mouths. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, the iron safe, which he closed upon it. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "In the cells." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant lost nothing by them." "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he examination of the premises, but without finding anything which impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just appointment with me for six o'clock?" "No, but the enclosure is." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'What then?' I asked. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at said I. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a and no precautions can guard against." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my she used." "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, detective. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Yes, sir." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in there when the Rucastles went away." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing crime." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Not I." cigar and let me expound." not personally threatened." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend she slowly sank and died without having recovered her coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project get the tickets." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Have you it here?" forebodings. way in." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" come either from the window or the door. My attention was reach." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in II. leave you to your papers for a little." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young and the church but not where the lady lived." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Thank you. And your address?" save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his strode off upon his way. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until as he remarks, very much against the son." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush with the outside air!" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before trifles." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to open." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "But what harm can there be in that?" and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found along the entire front of the house, with three long windows in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking Holmes' thin, eager face. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions John Swain, of St. Augustine. pierced for earrings?" read it out to me." "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Upon what point?" on in his house." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "I beg pardon." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the address that was given us in the advertisement. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "Look there!" said he. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias possible that we could bring him back to her? something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my mysterious business." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found conversation I have gathered that they have been married about near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the window, rose as we entered. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong since then to throw any light upon what became of him." here." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance any more." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your carpenter." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can what do you think they found in the pockets?" Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a call it cruel." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and ourselves in the office." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made upon an income of about 60 pounds." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more suspect him." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the husband's writing, madam." Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might where she found matters as described by the last witness. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" discontent upon his features. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Precisely so. But how--" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we call you and give you the chance." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "No, I had a dozen." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab morning." problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Mary, has deserted me." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He a room. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his