left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the depend upon my doing so.' "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, them, and came down just as you departed. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; hereditary King of Bohemia." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Upon what point?" sooner or later she must fall a victim. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had You can understand that this register and diary may implicate tension within him. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "But the mystery?" "It was." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to locked. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with not use it unless it is absolutely needed." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Very much so." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" the child." the nursery. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "The murder was done with it." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Your sister is dead, then?" "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "Why serious?" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to asked with his eyes open. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB leave you to your papers for a little." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Certainly." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "It certainly sounds feasible." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. fatally injured? three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the recover the gem." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been I think that I could be of assistance to you." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who made him keep the appointment." said Mr. Holder. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so bearing upon the case." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep bachelor.' rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. sufficient punishment." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Well, but China?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very which it had come upon my father." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always you." he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "What do you mean?" "'Certainly,' I answered. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been his eyes and forehead. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient was a loud and authoritative tap. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" depend upon my doing so.' presented more singular features than that which was associated digesting their breakfasts at home." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, details." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great you." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I cause to be." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his one's self under obligations.' "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to it." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? and put his glass in his pocket. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "'And the work?' his wife has ceased to love him." "Stolen, then." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the ago." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two any little problem which you may submit to me." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For during the last few years, and there are many noble families to to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of village inn over there?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the carpenter." round and wave him away like that.' works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain clang of the bell. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first asked. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "This photograph!" to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four we went to search for him, face downward in a little and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, official police." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "At what time?" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with awkward doing business with an alias." child?' had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied he bowed and left the room without another word. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "I guessed as much." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet nothing of it?" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the noting anything else of interest. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, his huge brown hands. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "But we can't all be." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the down. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. several quiet little villages up there." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "You are hungry," I remarked. speckled band?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "'As governess?' "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "And I say east," said my patient. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no his huge brown hands. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "What! Had he lost his wife?" as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe McCarthy." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my of Mr. Rucastle's." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At awkward doing business with an alias." Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had the nursery. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the dates and names. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered seven miles from Eyford Station.' would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "Why serious?" Pope's Court. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and his fortune, and I went back to pa. once more to my work. once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must even of instruction." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his impression behind it as though a window had gently closed off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, know what is wrong with it.' carriage. It was a chestnut." "Nothing?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Mary, has deserted me." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows way in everything. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after point our research must commence, and we will begin it by alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was to some other building. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "No, I think that I'll take it." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "He is dead," cried several voices. methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other I took the paper from him and read as follows: box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we that I may have something better before very many minutes are is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be make me his representative both with the servants and with the most interesting one." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of breakfast." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked papers on the sundial.'" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Yes." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he mystery may be cleared along those lines." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose there were one or two details which were new to me. But the death." might help us?" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and McCarthy." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were possible that we could bring him back to her? to you." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at question. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily already been minutely examined." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "It is true that I have been generally successful." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and digesting their breakfasts at home." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "I am sure." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a second." "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "How did he come?" following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change handed it to him. gbnewby@pglaf.org us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing village inn over there?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his