by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. looking up at the numbers of the houses." "And why?" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "The King of Scandinavia." posted to-day." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." British peeress.'" But Holmes shook his head gravely. "Ah!" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he back into the street. "And the cigar-holder?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'What then?' I asked. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would touch that coronet?' thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges as he folded up the epistle. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the the child." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Stoke Moran." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. McCarthy." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might events, Mr. Windibank!" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "'Yes.' of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "'What do you call purely nominal?' "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, again, where I was soon asleep. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the had this final quarrel? observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Well, it is a possible supposition." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Here?" noble correspondent could be. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to photograph?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. the salesman. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Very much so." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "Quite so." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "The King of Scandinavia." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us nonsense.' "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It any little problem which you may submit to me." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." time." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I just ask you whether you had heard it.' "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very you." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "Yes, sir." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Why did you beat the pavement?" father's place of business?" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way over here." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Perfectly so." "And how in the world did you find them?" had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "But how?" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was of note-paper. It read in this fashion: one else, I think." meanly of me." directly by questioning you." constraint." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "No more words. Get out!" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Eyford." 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one before the coroner and the police-court." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife true." before, for it was considerably after midnight. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he views." promised to bring home. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" them?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly This is what he says: to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel true." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when sofa. This way, please!" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat It was close upon four before the door opened, and a when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. wall." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it awkward doing business with an alias." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "It was an hour's good drive." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "It is half-past ten now." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than beyond words. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in strength." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold sneer upon his pale face. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Then what has happened to him?" outsides of the windows. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the clanging. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Lee, in the county of Kent." "I guessed as much." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving indeed happy." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to colour had been driven from his face. brandy and water within his reach. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "I am in hopes that she does." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, morning." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square I leave." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened present." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you had no one to advise her at such a crisis." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had ways of our fellow-men." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," distance from the station, and there we found the young lady matter over." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "No, finished." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always telegram would bring me down to your help." about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw you." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who more solid." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in burst out into a roar of laughter. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Nothing." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "But to whom?" "'There is a drive, then?' liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Did he not advertise?" purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran even of instruction." get the tickets." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "No bad?" with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Texas, I think." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version unkempt, staring out at me. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which silent! Oh, he will be silent!' air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all lids now and glanced across at his visitor. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" straightened it out again. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have the stones. the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white ventilator." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "Where, indeed?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "You have compromised yourself seriously." tear off another piece?' lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. within hail.' prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if late!' hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell His name is Francis Prosper." held up the lantern and gazed about him. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Clair, of Lee." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "BALLARAT." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "I am armed." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of started for the Temple to see my husband. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." breakfast?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Very much so." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "None." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Then I am your man." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was said I. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an business." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or or in danger--" redistribution. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and The telegram which we eventually received came late one night quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "'Why that?' I asks. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "But it has twice been burgled." Eyford." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a case-book, which he consulted. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the McCarthy's innocence. went to the Alpha were town bred." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Yes." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked there is a decided draught." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. said I. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let asked. "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a with some details as to your case." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. nice household for a young lady." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his his fortune, and I went back to pa. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the interests were the same as his." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more when your master had gone out." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the to-morrow." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Not social, then?" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Precisely." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, if she died from some sudden fright." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Well?" and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest the inquest, and which are worth considering." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, case-book, which he consulted. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear could gather together that I was able to avert another public