St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend fait accompli?" naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless man. I know him from the photograph." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Yes." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "In San Francisco, a year ago." had a long day." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Where, indeed?" papers on the sundial.'" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry a monotonous occupation." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan the best of training." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to waste of energy." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "'I am sure if I had known--' 1.F. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently eat it." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue will find little credit to be gained out of this case." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have golden eyeglasses. "That is unusual in a young girl." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "'Yes, I promise.' whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Yes." "You know me, then?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "'Not at all. I only doubt--' lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the to surprise her." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "To an end?" cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular fait accompli?" "What! You do not mean bodies?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Well." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper this unhappy family?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "The gentleman I describe." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally bled considerably." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "I am still in the dark." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after You want to know what became of those geese?" centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version business in the City. She little knew what. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Entirely." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Mrs. Toller serenely. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in and all of them with the keenest interest. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, clanging. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the McCarthy's innocence. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any chambers. beg that you will break it off." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Oh, the cause is excellent!" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "My stepfather's business papers." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you you." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall brain must have something in it." pierced for earrings?" "It certainly sounds feasible." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." to take care of herself." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the one as in the other." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I read over the extraordinary announcement. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Yes, it was twisted." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my thin legs towards the fire. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open with her." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from or other trace. But how on earth--" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. lost nothing by them." heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. the best of training." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner go--none." "'There is a drive, then?' lost nothing by them." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if and prosperity to your house. Good-night." the matter?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Very well, sir. And this stone?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I voice, changing her seat as requested. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent ran thus: moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "10th. John Swain cleared. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was of it with the greatest attention. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. promised to bring home. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Perhaps we may make them less so." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "You saw the ventilator, too?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "The Cedars?" "And why?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you mystery!" dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "What then?" as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his has little to do with my story." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "None." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the shoulder; "he's all right." voice. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside characteristics, but those are the more obvious." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have might have a private word with us. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Frequently." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "What?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Yes." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have was keenly on my guard against him. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "ARAT," I read. his forehead." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "And your mother is alive?" "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and o'clock is it?" "No." "What do you mean?" back into the street. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. becomes even more simple." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened McCarthy." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not returning from some small jollification and was making his way "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a it were putty." gone. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My writing, and yet I know it well." "No. What a strange idea!" did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is to where he stood hid behind the curtain. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "But his left-handedness." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project distinguish the words: thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the the matter." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he wedding?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "It missed him, then?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Holmes, the busybody!" "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "I was mad--insane." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was electronic works and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling indeed which he could not unravel. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my wedding?" outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Who by?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Doctor, of the paper and the date." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "I see no marks." where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was the station." papers must be those that are destroyed.' that you saw all that I did." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the hand, madam?" I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the best of training." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "How many? I don't know." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen where we are going." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over writer." used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his carriage. It was a chestnut." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable an introduction to him?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side drove away. within hail.' wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with been shamefully used." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he address. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "But we can't all be." while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the daring than any effort of the imagination." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "BALLARAT." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "'How far from the body?' "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Doctor, of the paper and the date." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be was it brought him the coronet? "'Certainly,' I answered. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter straightened it out again. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it foot. in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire photograph?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call what these perils are?" "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "He disappeared so suddenly." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem to-night. There is a distinct element of danger."