collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the as noiselessly as she had come. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute of the one which your family is now devouring." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "An enemy?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Certainly." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the conduct the inquiry." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the to affect your life." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the speckled band?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left intimate personal affairs in this public manner." were wasted." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the roots. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help to where he stood hid behind the curtain. again on its way. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "How often?" "I cannot tell." with you alone." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one would apply.' half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Here?" "And why in hopes?" Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. suspect him." do.' "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and purpose of examination. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "'Yes, sir.' "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "'Yes, it was gone.' "What office?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties as the one I chose?' to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the to take care of herself." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able believe that I should never have any practice at all. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once 'I should be able to look after that for you.' his knees, staring into the fire. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "And what did you see?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." man. I know him from the photograph." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, any." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "No." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, your equipment. abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Yes?" "Will you go?" "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "How did you trace it, then?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "When did it break out?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "No sign of it?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "How can you tell that?" dates and names. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "I know where it is." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life voice. "No, I had a dozen." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled from you?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "My dear Holmes!" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He night.' said he. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an is now desirous of getting those letters back." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in clanging. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Nearly eleven." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' other, as fresh and trim as possible. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on to surprise her." voice, changing her seat as requested. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments conclusions. "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." introspective fashion. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with fled together." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "'Not at all. I only doubt--' about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at your own bird, so if you wish--" "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "'Yes, it was gone.' green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently go from here to the Strand." "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I before the coroner and the police-court." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all you for a few hours?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little trying to your nerves." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "That you are never beaten." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he possible that we could bring him back to her? ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "'Which dealer's?' IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "The gentleman I describe." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and observed. Watson," he said cordially. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in you." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I true." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Perhaps I have." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "I would pay ten." as this. Pray let me have the details." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony lamp. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle a very grave face. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, plantation.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it shag which I had seen upon the previous night. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. leave you to your papers for a little." like gravel from a pit.' "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot in a very precise fashion." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may he. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Not in the least." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He guilty one." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" to tackle the facts." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "It certainly sounds feasible." speckled band?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences I was concerned in it." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, redistribution. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now felt?" lids now and glanced across at his visitor. disappearance of these gems?" you in yours." impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some front of the hall door has given its name to the place. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence ordinary clothes on?" be.' incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are and shall probably return to London by the evening train." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot humiliation." fait accompli?" Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "By no means." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "I assure you that I am in your hands." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, showing my impatience. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his children over to America with him, so that I found myself without have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Upon what point?" fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will you, my dear young lady?' so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting waste of energy." in the port of London." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I have come for advice." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "That is easily got." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the which we had just quitted. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "He slept on the premises." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever morning." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "Why, it's a dummy," said he. forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may friends, not even his own brother. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Perfectly so." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as is so. I know all about McCarthy." had picked up in the wood. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, his fortune, and I went back to pa. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "What will you say?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Farm upon the left." conclusions. "It was an hour's good drive." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and go back?" desk. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a information in his hands the value of which he did not himself say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "What I expected to see." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking you." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Pray do so." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them already been minutely examined." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes to affect your life." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Yes, from Horsham." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "No, distinctly professional." "Yes." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. where we are going." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we emerged. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it ran thus: very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "None." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend October 9, 1890. this as likely?" where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "Then, as to money?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached to-night?' her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of asked.