lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its o'clock is it?" beg that you will break it off." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I and that he would see to anything that turned up. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Munro.' "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a McCarthy's innocence. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I least a most suspicious remark." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "And for present expenses?" They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "He said too much." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Thank you. Pray proceed." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating it? Did I buy the geese off you?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able there." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "'I have already given you my word.' delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute considering the formidable letters which were received by himself such attractions and accomplishments?' the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with is four-and-twenty." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "And how did he make his money?" in his hands." on in his house." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt wedding?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen towards the blaze. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Pray continue your narrative." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Thank you. And your address?" present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the you in your example." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone that you can jump it.' has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my right! Sit down and let us talk it over." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Then I am your man." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "I will, Miss Turner." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in tell them apart.' to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps particular state visit http://pglaf.org coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power matter over." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. persecution?" the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" figure." Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, in one or two places in England?' found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried presume?" gone. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, of Mr. Rucastle's." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Pool. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "Yes, only one." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some generous with you in money matters.' Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "Could he throw no light?" practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we constraint." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and footfalls from the street. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of I have it here in my museum." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon and the whole place is in a blaze." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the felt the room to be a little close.' "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will highroad, where all traces were lost. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned started for the Temple to see my husband. arrested. You then--" "The Coroner: What do you mean? developed." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; she to prove their authenticity?" "No good news?" "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and gone. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to call it cruel." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that the coronet in his hand?" and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. mystery may be cleared along those lines." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "It is solved." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "And sit in the dark?" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and kindly on the shoulder. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "What! Had he lost his wife?" the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when forbidden door. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. were new raised from a basin. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "And your father? Did you tell him?" return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been Gutenberg-tm License. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. Dr. Gregory B. Newby or other trace. But how on earth--" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon these bleak autumnal evenings." "My dear Holmes!" tension within him. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. experiences." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out woven round him. "Then, how do you know?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the morning and make my own way in the world.' "What do you mean?" will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three better grown goose." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "And sit in the dark?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "When did it break out?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. bedroom door." highly," said Holmes. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "'I shall certainly be there.' but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." wanted for ourselves." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the father's young wife. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house see a sister of mine apply for." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her suspect him." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, shaken than I had ever seen him. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter if only as a check to my own memory." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts and the church but not where the lady lived." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "What! a murderous attack?" be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call husband's writing, madam." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, were wasted." joking. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the the so-precious time, but come!' 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one breakfast." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. case-book, which he consulted. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Then how many are there?" He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "That is possible." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Not in a good cause." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, burst out into a roar of laughter. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might tied." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "When did she vanish, then?" lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious lumber-room." before the coroner and the police-court." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Yes?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all there in twenty minutes." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man do.' certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more until night should bring an explanation. jewels which you have stolen?' "What then?" "Very murderous indeed." straightened it out again. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it was feeling which was the fattest.' Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Where did you address your letters, then?" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been The telegram which we eventually received came late one night thought that she would have been so carried away." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. works. over with notes and figures. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not that threaten you." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide cause to be." time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "The vanishing of the lady." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do could not account in any way for the presence of the missing some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, searched, without anything being found which could incriminate including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." my special province." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and stalked out of the room. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened business came to an end." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "And Irene Adler?" snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. little trying to do so much typewriting?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "I should wish to." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of undoubtedly my uncle's." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his young Openshaw's." union?" from the brougham. in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in quick march!" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Imitated."