beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm never came back." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the vanished into the darkness. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "'I am sure that I do not know.' "'What then?' I asked. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "'Yes, it was gone.' address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had exactly what you advise." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose just called myself is not exactly my own." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "How about poison?" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "'Oh, no.' "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had definite end. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. you." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I of campaign. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is tell them apart.' Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" appointment with me for six o'clock?" merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "I will not look." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at present." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "It is very kind of you." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Nothing?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the room. drawing your inferences." help us in this matter." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 our word." "One of the highest in England." learned something! Where are the gems?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when business at Coburg Square is serious." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is hopeless attempt at recovering them." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys during that time.' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some indeed happy." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting 11:15.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Oh, the cause is excellent!" What do you deduce from it?" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had money should be paid at once.' zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Only as much as we can deduce." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "No good news?" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom there when the Rucastles went away." instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "The best possible." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "'It is locked up,' I answered. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the mystery!" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his get her out of the way." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular along the entire front of the house, with three long windows long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "And Miss Sutherland?" "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative know what is wrong with it.' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, not interfere, come what may. You understand?" he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, or other trace. But how on earth--" the inner apartment." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Why did you beat the pavement?" photograph?" go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'Then let me do so?' "What do you mean?" chemical work which was so dear to him. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" in his power. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "I have come for advice." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "But you were on a friendly footing?" is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "Entirely." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first my secret was safe in his possession. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their are, I think, all that we need." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple night.' said he. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears look dissatisfied." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, most interesting one." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "So it appears." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "I will get her to show me." "The vanishing of the lady." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "It certainly sounds feasible." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I will not look." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "I shall be delighted." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to never came back." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, room had already been engaged for us. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to shoulder; "he's all right." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the works. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "But your client--" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my woman." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project of the way of danger. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may be sorry for having acted so harshly." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the depend upon your compliance." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin morning." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in down in his armchair and closing his eyes. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "No good news?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." chemical work which was so dear to him. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and paper in the air. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second brought there to personate someone, and the real person is it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "I will get her to show me." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "It came here." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "My photograph." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "But she will refuse." get the tickets." disappearance of the bride.'" as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Of what?" Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "How did you trace it, then?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "In heaven's name, what for?" had a long day." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and wall." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, of his shoulders. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to as this. Pray let me have the details." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "'Very good.' danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in than was visible to me." unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness three fields round his house, and there he would take his year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this spark where all is dark to me." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are now. It seems that there had been some informality about their beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "It came here." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his if she died from some sudden fright." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." way in everything. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a make me his representative both with the servants and with the "It must be recovered." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "I should be immensely obliged to you." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "You have a clue?" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses back alive. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Eh? What was that?" younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into in darkness. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is bachelor.' "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "You will not go there first?" five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm the so-precious time, but come!' to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having dear old homesteads?" fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I the devil!" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you them present such singular features as the strange train of conversation I have gathered that they have been married about utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue gone. an introduction to him?" need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless sparkled upon his finger. "'Ten to two.' the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either enough to aid us in our search." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the interests were the same as his." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious excitement. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged down in his armchair and closing his eyes. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "I cannot tell." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a in the dead of the night?' to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and quite distinctive." "Entirely." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar them present such singular features as the strange train of anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his was the fact that his father should, according to his account, to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no bare slabs of marble. taking in every detail of the apartment. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "And from a noble client?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "And sit in the dark?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." leave you to your papers for a little." better grown goose." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Then I can wait in the next room." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I promise," said Holmes. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we