we went to search for him, face downward in a little in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, waste of energy." of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "I will get her to show me." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification national property. I was determined that the law should have its "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save the Red-headed League." allusion to a rat. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "9th. McCauley cleared. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange thin legs towards the fire. have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the signal between you and your father? is entirely a question of barometric pressure." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "My last client of the sort was a king." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the did not hear it also.' "The best possible." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "I cannot as yet see any connection." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all followed. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "No." the tragedy. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was you want, then?' few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "Yes, only one." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its writer." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler south, for the country is more deserted there." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, in the hope of finding them." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, affection." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this that, and I came down." chill to my heart. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Always." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another residence of the great financier. the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Then I can wait in the next room." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable have an American origin." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, brain must have something in it." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he placed his cuttings. handed it to him. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a enter into my head. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "And now?" He raised his hand. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "'Oh, no.' laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "I fear not." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over the warnings." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied present." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off as yours." him to be an active member of the medical profession." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the galvanised. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "Never." "The gentleman I describe." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever him nearly every evening." will he say when he returns?" yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is was the fact that his father should, according to his account, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's eavesdroppers?' her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, shag which I had seen upon the previous night. as yours." of them has the shutters up.' whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out to change my dress. third from London." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "On the contrary, this is the right side." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box woman who has had her own way to make in the world. I think that I could be of assistance to you." "And I to find an enemy." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Of what?" "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, said I. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, papers." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into hereditary King of Bohemia." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and occupations.' what is your own theory as to what took place?" are windows in it, of course?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Not particularly." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he the tragedy. McCarthy." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Not in a good cause." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. in. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The article?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he strong reason behind." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Pray do so." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike in one or two places in England?' husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the hand, madam?" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he is now desirous of getting those letters back." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "No, but the enclosure is." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "How on earth--" before, for it was considerably after midnight. matters immensely." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which it right.' come either from the window or the door. My attention was chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Eh? What was that?" intrusion of other matters." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I have a cab outside." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "No sign of it?" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Ah!" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I was afraid that you were engaged." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I green of the new foliage. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands mystery." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "The rest you will leave in our hands." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to entirely devoid of interest." "An accident, I presume?" was lame." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "I would give my fortune to have them back." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "And for present expenses?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "I am sure." them, and came down just as you departed. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission to-morrow." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." sofa. This way, please!" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance completely overtopped every other consideration that we both having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "How long did she speak to this Alice?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will used to be." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to you." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Then, how do you know?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I am armed." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect his cane at the bell-pull. way in everything. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "He slept on the premises." shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You burst out into a roar of laughter. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did any more." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in in a very precise fashion." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect Holmes. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Only as much as we can deduce." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check to you." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as and inquire as to the address." branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, legal crime." developed." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, it means?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "She told me to ask you." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my American. Then who could this American be, and why should he she slowly sank and died without having recovered her across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very pound a week." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far miles off. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a very old mansion. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Which are?" "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Of what day?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it speckled band?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his Clair, of Lee." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. writing, and yet I know it well." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "And who is her maid?" "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Street. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I thirty. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and fattened it expressly for you.' that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. be.' "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it door?" the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "One horse?" interjected Holmes. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon will he say when he returns?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning before the coroner and the police-court." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for papers." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are you." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement think you a quite exceptional woman." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." to talk it over. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her horse could go." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "If I can be of use." "Just look it up, then." extraordinary contortions. her also." "Then you may entirely rely on me." where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Yes." and have this put in the evening papers." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat."