American. Then who could this American be, and why should he practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I should be immensely obliged to you." of campaign. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come orange pips. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered emerged. "From his hat?" common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she prisoner's face. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is come either from the window or the door. My attention was him to be an active member of the medical profession." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat excitement. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the the general public were present, then?" "But it has twice been burgled." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall six. Come in!" "None." "He might." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any together. But Holmes shook his head gravely. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "What I expected to see." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "No legal papers or certificates?" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes she has been waylaid. There has been no result." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety to-night." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? in this note: way: "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five situation." I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to forbidden door. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether to me. man. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I saw her in conversation with her maid." delirious. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Henry Baker is a member." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "My dear Holmes!" quick march!" "Where, then?" this truth that in these little records of our cases which you as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me to have that photograph." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just to arrive at through this?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "Bought." "One of his hands." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of 'I should be able to look after that for you.' upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "No good news?" any." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the envelope. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential one of them." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable disappearance of the bride.'" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was remarked. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the coronet at all injured?" "'Yes, I promise.' have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Edgeware Road. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I article?" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural The note was undated, and without either signature or address. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had several quiet little villages up there." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "The Cedars?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'Stolen!' he cried. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" the night.' glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in opened the door, and slipped through. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its just ask you whether you had heard it.' "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is ready to-morrow?' with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "It is no ordinary one." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "Nothing?" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "On Monday." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer in him." weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Precisely." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own morning." "Why, what do you mean?" continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect with you?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "My photograph." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Here?" His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke ago." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "'What do you call purely nominal?' I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on it with his own hands." "Your French gold?" "What! You do not mean bodies?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I don't believe it." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. o'clock is it?" "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "I promise," said Holmes. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Proceed, then." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Just look it up, then." derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Yes." "'Yes, sir.' (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover any little problem which you may submit to me." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. I nodded again. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to have I gained?" unkempt, staring out at me. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "That is easily got." thin legs towards the fire. straightened it out again. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was for and were ordered to this address. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste was the fact that his father should, according to his account, been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer late!' Watson," he said cordially. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It guilty one." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "And what did you learn from him?" future lives." "You think so, too?" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Where did he live, then?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "But to whom?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned strange features which were associated with the two crimes which from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I said I. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through more terrible than the truth. "Her father is very rich?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle present strange and interesting features that it is no easy twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "And you don't know his address?" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either goes." "Yes, but only for you and me." obstinate." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "Then he might have called to you?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "What have you done?" asked Holmes. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources think that any burglar could have done. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "I have hopes." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "That is it on the dressing-table." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out arrested. You then--" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "But what will you do?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she speckled band?" form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Holmes' face clouded over. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "And why?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "'Is 4 pounds a week.' bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "You have compromised yourself seriously." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Come in!" said Holmes. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! been able to understand it, in a very few words. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked despair." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any lids now and glanced across at his visitor. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Quite so." "What office?" thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "This concluded the examination of the witness." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "When did it break out?" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they heavily into it. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my front of the hall door has given its name to the place. into the room. still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the handed it to him. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." take the flies, but not before." "At the wedding breakfast." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my delighted to hear it," he said. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his dates and names. "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that himself to tell his story. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main ventilator." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best James Windibank. Voilà tout!" train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Which are?" received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we locked." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes quite distinctive." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Surrey." sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "The best possible." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the friend's singular character. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest been deceived." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as light and attacked it." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall guilty one." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." power." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "It is very kind of you." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I