in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in lost his Christmas dinner." said I. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, the date of his supposed suicide." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he cost them two and thirty pounds." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see What do you deduce from it?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "What!" he roared. quite distinctive." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had way: "Breckinridge is his name." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'Certainly,' I answered. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "I cannot as yet see any connection." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." sound at heart." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "I have seen the police." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation man. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the these bleak autumnal evenings." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are footfalls from the street. They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "You think so, too?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the golden eyeglasses. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house of your young ladies.' "Why serious?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "In answer to an advertisement." the Assizes." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about gigantic client. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "But we can't all be." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, through." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of which was all perfectly true. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "I have my revolver," said I. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our as the one I chose?' volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a or in danger--" all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do following enigmatical notices: self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had that you wished to speak to me?' respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here indeed happy." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, murdered man." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the and a shock of very red hair. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the Count Von Kramm." aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "I don't say that. Perhaps." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Just look it up, then." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, cup of tea. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was note?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his not fit the lock." bonnet, and went out." "Perhaps we may make them less so." for its centre. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "'Where could I find him?' "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough enter into my head. The telegram which we eventually received came late one night diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the the best of training." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked lumber-room." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of late." returning from some small jollification and was making his way that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I vanished into the darkness. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" new acquaintance to Baker Street. its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in the night.' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "But what harm can there be in that?" "At what time?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "I will do it." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror we went to search for him, face downward in a little course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "May I see it?" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and in a very precise fashion." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "In what way?" asked Holmes. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Ample." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to garden below. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted papers on the sundial.'" happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a is acting for the best. "An enemy?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at to-night?" I asked. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "You were travelling in the States?" on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "But his left-handedness." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by do.' and looked back. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found again on its way. brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There of them has the shutters up.' Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us go--none." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "It is no ordinary one." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I infinite languor in his face. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' this Miss Turner." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "His face fell immediately. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was closing the door. "I am following you closely," I answered. the coronet at all injured?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "One of the highest in England." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "How did he come?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "One of the highest in England." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled The telegram which we eventually received came late one night the child." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and taking in every detail of the apartment. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, pound a week." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew records." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "How are you getting on?" red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded child?' remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." are, I think, all that we need." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. telegram would bring me down to your help." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had burst into a hearty fit of laughter. it." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked was a loud and authoritative tap. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "He said that you could solve anything." "It is no ordinary one." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had present strange and interesting features that it is no easy have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But the very morning of the wedding." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "And on what day did he meet his death?" "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and bearing upon the case." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there highly," said Holmes. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed other means.' impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the instincts rose up against that laugh. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "How did that help you?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There visitors." all that?" so far?" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "Never to return." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "I will do it." Watson," he said cordially. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until late!' bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but call you and give you the chance." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, charge against him will break down." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am that the gas is not laid on in his house?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, before, for it was considerably after midnight. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she writer." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Yes." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. the loss of it. only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "One horse?" interjected Holmes. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my to me. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "'No, I know no one in these parts.' I was concerned in it." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. in this way: considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have in his power. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "By all means." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice whatever might befall. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which gone. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "So I am. Very much so." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from you." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the the King without delay."