"I am all attention, madam." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. easy-going way." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' your troubles." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner presented more singular features than that which was associated "Yes, they were peculiar boots." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." happened." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "'What then?' I asked. there!' threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Munro.' home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed went to the Alpha were town bred." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Certainly." at my remark. populous neighbourhood." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "No, I am descending." "Absolutely none." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted the bed, and you in that chair." never came back." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the and your relations to her." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further lamp. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'You cannot say what it was?' adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." fasten all the windows?" questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for disturbance in my wife." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB you?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to indeed happy." dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the papers on the sundial.'" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the affair. intrusion of other matters." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Does that suggest anything?" "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than and shall probably return to London by the evening train." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom in a friendly supper." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "We must have a cab." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love hopeless attempt at recovering them." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain becomes even more simple." vault. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one quickly through a disagreeable task. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. jewels which you have stolen?' not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not promised to bring home. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "One of the highest in England." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "'You doubt its value?' he asked. asked. of a light. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for the warnings." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as nothing with him." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Where did you address your letters, then?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a notes," he said. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed guilty one." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed whatever might befall. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "I have hopes." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of the address that was given us in the advertisement. true." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. careless servant girl?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country not personally threatened." the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "'And what salary do you ask?' are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "But how?" you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Yes, there are nearly always some there." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "Certainly." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, placed his cuttings. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Who by?" whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the upon the shelf for the interim." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with better grown goose." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must all-comprehensive glances. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. peculiar to him. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was the window, rose as we entered. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent it right.' "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the man. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "'Which dealer's?' round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged when you have done it." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended to a light-house. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, bedroom door." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less look dissatisfied." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Eh? What was that?" "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included the address that was given us in the advertisement. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my yet." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually morning." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger records." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I it were putty." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small morning." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up my friend's incisive reasoning. o'clock is it?" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his there in twenty minutes." believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." where we are going." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "By no means." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in information in his hands the value of which he did not himself reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the have one." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, crime." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his someone who had been in Australia." unkempt, staring out at me. bled considerably." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel swore that no one else had been in the front room during the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." taking in every detail of the apartment. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that such person." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "But his lameness?" "None." "I was afraid that you were engaged." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. you give your casting vote to?" knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and face and glided from the room. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "10th. John Swain cleared. your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Serpentine Avenue. business matters.' has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' walking." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right if I call to-morrow?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "It is very kind of you." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. particular state visit http://pglaf.org shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" enough to aid us in our search." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else said I. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a sofa. This way, please!" returning from some small jollification and was making his way uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I lumber-room." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to trifles." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a returned to France?" were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as you found me to-night--and running through the front room she essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Has he come with you to-night?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "But how?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" I am not easy in my mind about them." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "She will not sell." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat thirty. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Watson," he said cordially. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "'I have already given you my word.' "And now?" He raised his hand. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Well, some hundreds of times." every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the not personally threatened." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered Holmes' face clouded over. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" most important business. It is probable that he will be away all of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! the one as in the other." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "Ah, but I was recommended to you." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal could gather together that I was able to avert another public upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "From his hat?" "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is ways including including checks, online payments and credit card I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Not particularly." heavy and sharp instrument." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." man. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss where she found matters as described by the last witness. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "'Yes, I promise.'