"My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I developed." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call her also." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly problems help me to do so." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the directors, with the result that you have seen." "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Pray continue your narrative." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, do." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come a suggestive one." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be floor. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large even of instruction." "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down right! Sit down and let us talk it over." bore every mark of being an average commonplace British "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. Serpentine Avenue. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the his face. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for written, and locked the door of the office after me. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "But the mystery?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "By all means." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here there." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency villagers almost as much as their master. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the the coronet at all injured?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an goes." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "I think it very unlikely." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you events than those which have happened in my own family." "You forget that I know nothing about it." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "Not I." absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I which it had come upon my father." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him meanly of me." place of silver." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling Young McCarthy must be got off, however." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked one of them." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "And how did he make his money?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. yourselves in at night?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with flock.' thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "I will do it." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom go from here to the Strand." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. to have been novel and of interest." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could that there was nothing in it, after all." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." them?" Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet opportunities to fix the problem. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a done what I asked you, Jones?" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to and effective." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Sholtos." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about point our research must commence, and we will begin it by 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the appeal." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the could gather together that I was able to avert another public I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, her also." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of sparkled upon his finger. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; begun to whiten, even as mine has." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, that, and I came down." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. strong reason behind." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a there was no need for father to know." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the that pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob indeed which he could not unravel. "Well, some hundreds of times." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them quickly through a disagreeable task. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Pray continue your narrative." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been indiscretion." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be the running down." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "What then?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "What do you mean?" this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the it. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Your sister is dead, then?" have got?" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "My dear Holmes!" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and new acquaintance to Baker Street. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our against a man in the prime of life?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently God! What an exposure! What can I do?" among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is lumber-room." "And on what day did he meet his death?" "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, of campaign. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you were wasted." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! outbreak?" stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a the address that was given us in the advertisement. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming that I am arrested." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have is worth.' night.' said he. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "I am all attention, madam." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A fishes. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call my room." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the she might be summoned. "No good news?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a coat-tails." Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Mrs. Toller serenely. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and who was a member of your goose club." The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but Sholtos." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to furiously. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the chance at all." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer points in connection with it which never have been, and probably which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "I fear not." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he call for protection in the marriage market, for the present will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "How many? I don't know." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I say that I have solved it." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the instincts rose up against that laugh. "You know me, then?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Thank you. And your address?" upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Breckinridge is his name." forehead. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "I will, Miss Turner." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can than was visible to me." to-night?' a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was written. "An accident, I presume?" homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "'Not at all. I only doubt--' the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "What will you do, then?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the disturbance in my wife." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the returning from some small jollification and was making his way "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "Have you it here?" "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "You saw the ventilator, too?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this until night should bring an explanation. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind the roots. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day some water from a caraffe. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Stolen." "You have the photograph?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a not, dad?" she asked. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon had no one to advise her at such a crisis." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated Holmes' thin, eager face. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices your most interesting statement." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his gone before you can get him to hospital." manager. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Yes?" "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." mystery." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced should be taken.' who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, Doctor, of the paper and the date." voice. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over danger is over." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back