"Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and cost them two and thirty pounds." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, dear old homesteads?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "At what time?" you." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had this unhappy family?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive up this clue while it is still hot." status with the IRS. the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously which our visitor detailed to us. from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "'In my own bureau.' the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "About a month then." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. and effective." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Why serious?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are geese which you supplied to the Alpha." your equipment. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. one of the states of the Union." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Certainly, madam." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very case-book, which he consulted. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "It was a confession," I ejaculated. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he companion. in the hope of finding them." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. other, as fresh and trim as possible. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Then you may be so with me." "Look there!" said he. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "But how?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." do you make of it all?" Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Proceed, then." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not opened the door, and slipped through. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it means taking possession of that which another person has a prior the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. be.' "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow showing my impatience. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk annoyance, but no jest. "And is that all?" "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your as yours." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "I should wish to." garden below. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Proceed, then." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Yes." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "What I expected to see." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked Does that suggest anything?" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "I don't say that. Perhaps." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his to have that photograph." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as recover the gem." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, could go. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "And how did you verify them?" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was Mary, has deserted me." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the went to the Alpha were town bred." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "What! Had he lost his wife?" "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the driver. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. was a perfect sample of the class. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest detained." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the it means?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Here?" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "I cannot tell." reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders had formerly been in part my own. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in go back?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Not yet." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Serpentine Avenue. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." with frightened eyes at his accuser. "It is no ordinary one." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Then I am your man." condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into not use it unless it is absolutely needed." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come outside. room. they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had me where it went to?" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker and laid it on the table. an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "How many? I don't know." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "None." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you read it out to me." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the delighted to hear it," he said. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The Street. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a lids now and glanced across at his visitor. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" done what I asked you, Jones?" corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I cannot as yet see any connection." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. that I am arrested." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a throat." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "No. What a strange idea!" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" your room." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. cheerful." standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Stolen." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this them?" precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "How long did she speak to this Alice?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these secret." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear colour had been driven from his face. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the loss of it. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were child?' in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I him and tried to hold him back. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could husband's writing, madam." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "How on earth--" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my you in yours." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came DAMAGE. which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too your equipment. keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. take the flies, but not before." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every you." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been happened." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' it were putty." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found peculiar to him. Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "You have compromised yourself seriously." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was showing my impatience. "It is possible." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the trying to your nerves." "If I can be of use." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. them?" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "And I to find an enemy." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." are, I think, all that we need." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "No bad?" way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the fat-encircled eyes. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed it." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "No. What a strange idea!" examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Well." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. official police." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid long narrative. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when said Mr. Holder. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the certainly not very gracious." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." I have it here in my museum." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible down in his armchair and closing his eyes. other, as fresh and trim as possible. if I call to-morrow?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "That also I could fathom." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "My dear Holmes!" and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "That sounds a little paradoxical." in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss was used.' marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside wanted for ourselves." not personally threatened." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of tell me that you intended to go into harness." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite so.' wedding?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the