Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "Stolen." "No." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line have got?" nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. papers on the sundial.'" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." there was no need for father to know." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "He might." trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Then how many are there?" just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick weigh very heavily upon my conscience." abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his heavy and sharp instrument." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the child." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide himself to tell his story. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Pray tell us what has happened to you." distinguish the words: not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle knowledge of the world." "Who was the criminal, then?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very use an arc-and-compass breastpin." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Never." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was me upon any point which I do not make clear." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "You think so, too?" "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the house with me." works. See paragraph 1.E below. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Breckinridge is his name." happened." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "I am to be neutral?" I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Nothing." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all residence of the great financier. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in thin legs towards the fire. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to woven round him. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Witness: Nothing definite. the inner apartment." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been easy-going way." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I and I shall be with you presently." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' which it had come upon my father." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began handed it to him. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him round with crates and massive boxes. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "I say that I have solved it." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a floor. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "If I can be of use." Street. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to already been minutely examined." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' the nursery. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most whole matter to your consideration." drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Yes." "Won't it ring?" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for yourselves in at night?" "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the situation." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Stoke Moran." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a new acquaintance to Baker Street. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the Holmes' thin, eager face. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "I will do it." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave trying to your nerves." business." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I have my revolver," said I. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of morning." mystery!" There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "You were travelling in the States?" "'A dozen yards or so.' States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Precisely." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I have a cab outside." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The and your relations to her." "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the The King stared at him in amazement. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of outsides of the windows. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "By train from Waterloo." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Well, it is a possible supposition." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "No." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "'Never.' young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his companion. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and who was a member of your goose club." together. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, and your relations to her." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of south, for the country is more deserted there." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he shoulder. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "But he might be a bachelor." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered upon the sideboard." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" cost them two and thirty pounds." straightened it out again. to you." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Holmes." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, at my remark. the coronet in his hand?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our see me here to avoid scandal." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Nothing." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm fled together." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "I should like to see him very much." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. tell me that you intended to go into harness." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Did you become engaged then?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "What do you mean?" lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "I will get her to show me." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." at my remark. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads do you make of it all?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in she slowly sank and died without having recovered her He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is congenial hunt. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "'What then?' I asked. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." do.' with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "But what is it you wish?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob the date of his supposed suicide." "But she will refuse." never came back." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Not social, then?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and in the hope of finding them." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "She will not sell." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation of." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should ourselves in the office." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" were unconscious?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Henry Baker is a member." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." maiden herself was most instructive." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; bill, which interests me deeply." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us Street. felt the room to be a little close.' most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "'Is 4 pounds a week.' feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Upon what point?" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "But his lameness?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my gives a meaning to it." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two distinguish the words: charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." girl said." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is You want to know what became of those geese?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to impression behind it as though a window had gently closed He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was knowledge of the world." is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "You have carte blanche." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said License. You must require such a user to return or the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he himself in a perplexing position. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found crackling voice. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "I think that I had better go, Holmes." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had it with his own hands." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "I am all attention, madam." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One orange pips. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "A confidential servant?" lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella it were putty." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been she has been waylaid. There has been no result." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique extraordinary contortions. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I knowledge of the world." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "But your client--" company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "'Very good.' ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "None." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I shall most certainly do so." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly matter." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The place of silver." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there floor. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John