places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with if she died from some sudden fright." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the habit of advancing money.' all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he I shall continue with my miserable story. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "The best possible." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. galvanised. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Game for a morning drive?" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. more solid." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more the bed, and you in that chair." what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties the address that was given us in the advertisement. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Your presence might be invaluable." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "How can you tell that?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money be. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to should be so warm over such a trifle." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He III. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "To an English lawyer named Norton." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "I have solved it." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a Literary Archive Foundation consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "'What do you call purely nominal?' went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this that you can jump it.' the King without delay." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "My dear Holmes!" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "Come in!" said he. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Yes, that is the Crown." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and too. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" Holmes' thin, eager face. having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "Nearly eleven." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he giving me time to thank him. were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "And why?" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as brandy and water within his reach. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over is a common subject for conversation. should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "And from a noble client?" I am not easy in my mind about them." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet easy-going way." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been front of me. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "None." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it next day. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could up this clue while it is still hot." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in despair." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Stolen, then." of a light. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One McCarthy." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." directors, with the result that you have seen." "Very murderous indeed." forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little newspaper selections." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had time." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Holmes." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, your room." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all him and tried to hold him back. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "What have you to say now?" present." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double night.' said he. existence." might help us?" "Eh? What was that?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business formed some opinion?" the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that in the hope of finding them." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Witness: Nothing definite. a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I cannot imagine." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "No, I had a dozen." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should fear." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is I shall communicate with you." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "One?" promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that companion. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Come in!" said he. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, to a more successful conclusion." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind was a lad." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. narrative." arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "What will you say?" "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but morning." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "And Miss Sutherland?" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit advice." of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was remarked. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This the bottom.' from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my Mrs. Toller serenely. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you not use it unless it is absolutely needed." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." results." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "And the murderer?" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a chill to my heart. who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "To the police?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." trifles." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I the coronet in his hand?" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all questioning and rather startled gaze. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from public press." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Witness: Nothing definite. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." of campaign. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, to me. "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "My own seal." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and must compliment you." "Well, some hundreds of times." the inquest, and which are worth considering." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, shoulder; "he's all right." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to the King without delay." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he For additional contact information: "Then I am your man." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. and inquire as to the address." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "No good news?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Then how many are there?" said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that the general public were present, then?" on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's American. Then who could this American be, and why should he lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Precisely." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "No, but the enclosure is." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a that the gas is not laid on in his house?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "'Is 4 pounds a week.' be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as instituted." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His the coroner come to?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." morning." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "On Monday." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start there when the Rucastles went away." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "'I have heard so.' docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it him." with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a directors, with the result that you have seen." "And why?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "'Then let me do so?' brandy and water within his reach. "Very much so." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Street. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to It may be so in this case, also." was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without it." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Yes, sir." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. will be renamed. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be man. I know him from the photograph." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey one of the states of the Union." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left desk. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "How do you know, then?" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond