in this way: "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, matter." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and to a light-house. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Eyford." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I of them has the shutters up.' (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. disappearance of the bride.'" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "I don't say that. Perhaps." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one know that the truth is known." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin returned to France?" to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." the very morning of the wedding." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Was there a secret marriage?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of purpose of examination. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is attention." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any DISSOLVED. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty questionable one." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "I should wish to." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project so.' "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." This is what he says: not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "'Yes, sir.' scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Henry Baker is a member." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, our word." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "To an end?" purpose equally well?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until mysterious business." "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Very truly yours, than to us. developed." be best to do. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a introspective fashion. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts sound at heart." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb unclasping of his long thin hands. which our visitor detailed to us. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a strong reason behind." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have looking up at the numbers of the houses." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'Ten to two.' trying to your nerves." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement through." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that very old mansion. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "Well, it is a possible supposition." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which sparkled upon his finger. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "To an end?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "The decline of his fortunes, then?" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, foresight and the moral retrogression?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down 1.E.9. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to shall not find me ungrateful." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Then the page we have seen--" make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "'I shall certainly be there.' "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "'I have already given you my word.' "His face fell immediately. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the maid will bring up your coffee." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had in him." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. which it had come upon my father." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." breakfast." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "'Yes.' as this. Pray let me have the details." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Project Gutenberg-tm works. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a cost them two and thirty pounds." "And how?" the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present narrative." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "'Then let me do so?' Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to the salesman. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Where to?" go from here to the Strand." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "And how did he make his money?" "Stolen, then." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Her father is very rich?" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the which it had come upon my father." "Then you may entirely rely on me." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "10th. John Swain cleared. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands that, and I came down." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Was the window open?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as present." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "What, then, did Peterson do?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." nights." "Nothing?" it were putty." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the security.' not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, to affect your life." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "'How far from the body?' had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "I am about to be married." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these any more." "Why did you beat the pavement?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder his forehead." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "What have you to say now?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly shoulder; "he's all right." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, but preventing her from injuring another. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I directors, with the result that you have seen." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself there has been an enclosure here!" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "A call for help, you thought?" even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Tired-looking or fresh?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" me." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary delirious. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for chambers. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I think that it is very probable." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "What shall I do?" Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a ago." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "And how did you verify them?" waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall discontent upon his features. "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it you found me to-night--and running through the front room she seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we know what is wrong with it.' Does that suggest anything?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "And you don't know his address?" companion quietly. you in your example." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "He said too much." not personally threatened." disappearance of the bride.'" again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. question," said Holmes, smiling. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "I say it is." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have the child." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have any little problem which you may submit to me." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious hands. ourselves in the office." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "And did you observe any change in her then?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Yes, but only for you and me." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' of the efforts of the United States government and of the better great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry amused." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" client, rising. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "I cannot think." "How often?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last strong and stiff." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." presented more singular features than that which was associated set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. next day. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "So it appears." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in will he say when he returns?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB good for you to do.' the night.' elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself visitors." that?' persecution?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point used to be." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The again." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more happened." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." could gather together that I was able to avert another public of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, is so. I know all about McCarthy." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "That is not always so easy." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for danger is over." John Swain, of St. Augustine. galvanised. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now