knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found to a light-house. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "That is it on the dressing-table." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, with the outside air!" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "And you thought he was pulled back?" morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB best detective that ever lived. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. I approached. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a manager. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must father's place of business?" fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "None." best detective that ever lived. locked. dramatic, in fact." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" few hundred pounds.' "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms place, I think that there is good ground to think that the to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "What have you to say now?" behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a minor matters until to-morrow." considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am any." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'Certainly not. But why?' Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Serpentine Avenue. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Yes, there are nearly always some there." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe neither fascinating nor artistic." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And of a light. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "And how?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" During two years I have had three consultations and one small "On Monday." "My stepfather's business papers." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked His smile broadened. and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on in this note: to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the morning and make my own way in the world.' "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway crowd. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. it." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "But not more so than I to find you." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in touch that coronet?' fact, we may call it conclusive." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Awake, Watson?" he asked. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "On your arm?" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "To ruin me." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he and a shock of very red hair. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Ha! you find it so?" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." morning." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the works. See paragraph 1.E below. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the formed some opinion?" McCarthy's innocence. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "But I am all in the dark." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "To the police?" "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to call the police, let the police find what they can.' the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "What can you not understand?" might have a private word with us. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious I shall communicate with you." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my Does that suggest anything?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her Cross for the Continent." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "'I shall certainly be there.' "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "The Cedars?" is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a him to be an active member of the medical profession." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his from you?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached province." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Yesterday." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its key of the affair now." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as threw himself down with his face to the pillow. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so him and tried to hold him back. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies once more. looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for newspaper selections." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "'Yes, it was gone.' annoyance, but no jest. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." experiences." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being your equipment. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it be. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "To an English lawyer named Norton." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey frequently gained my first real insight into the character of 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a arms and began to sob in a high treble key. with you alone." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' these bleak autumnal evenings." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Street. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Well." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** manager. emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. prisoner's face. "But how did you gain them?" "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man here." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Ten will be early enough." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "And what did you learn from him?" the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them detained." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and eat it." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted his cane at the bell-pull. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Edgeware Road. "And what did you see?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at said Mr. Holder. that he will be back before evening." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, unkempt, staring out at me. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. garden below. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." of them has the shutters up.' "No." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "And you thought he was pulled back?" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "'How far from the body?' "The knees of his trousers." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and the matter?" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of lumber-room." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I seen the man in the road." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining once more for Briony Lodge. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of one else, I think." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "Then I am your man." McCarthy." yet." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than held up the lantern and gazed about him. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and his fortune, and I went back to pa. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the matter." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "If I can be of use." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those bird of prey. what I may call a really hard day's work." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I easy-going way." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I Doctor, of the paper and the date." will take you up to see the machine.' son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will success. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the shall not find me ungrateful." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Not particularly." very old mansion. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" him to be an active member of the medical profession." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Certainly." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "An enemy?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "No, I had a dozen." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not to me. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to or other trace. But how on earth--" explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. handed it to him. purpose equally well?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "To an end?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "What is it?" "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis completely overtopped every other consideration that we both permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible eat it." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "How did he come?" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. October 9, 1890. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and he died? The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Witness: I must still refuse. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "But he might be a bachelor." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled strode off upon his way. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'What would be the hours?' I asked. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "What can it mean?" I gasped. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual what these perils are?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through digesting their breakfasts at home." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be pity, because in other respects you would really have done very middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm definite end. astonishment. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Yes, certainly." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were