out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like own family. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was and your relations to her." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would and prosperity to your house. Good-night." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier that you can jump it.' widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just been lifted and conveyed somewhere." determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "And the murderer?" "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Leave Paddington by the 11:15." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a gentleman's clothes. mysterious end." wall." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "My Mary? Impossible!" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Your sister is dead, then?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I lamp. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey returning from some small jollification and was making his way pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Very well, sir. And this stone?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "But not more so than I to find you." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To noting anything else of interest. "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my pity, because in other respects you would really have done very over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with down. words came to my lips. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his suspect him." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he suspect him." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. your billet.' secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "And you thought he was pulled back?" her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than official police." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. writers could invent nothing more crude." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "It is no ordinary one." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'As governess?' was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to asked. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Could he throw no light?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. up this clue while it is still hot." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which may never be exposed to such a temptation." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Whose house is it?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to and prosperity to your house. Good-night." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "He said too much." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." my special province." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, late!' "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "But your client--" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" the room while you explain this matter?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one Mrs. Toller serenely. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him works. See paragraph 1.E below. "'Where could I find him?' "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished nothing with him." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a never came back." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is Does that suggest anything?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came but preventing her from injuring another. conceal it?" "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. me have 200 pounds?' dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "There is the writing." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your your billet.' words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Nothing." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite think you a quite exceptional woman." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite pound a week." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to character. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United to miss it." "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help unclasping of his long thin hands. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my populous neighbourhood." "No, distinctly professional." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange is four-and-twenty." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "No good news?" "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, taking in every detail of the apartment. happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Watson," he said cordially. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "On your arm?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more as he folded up the epistle. mystery." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good details should find their way into the papers. Inspector theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Pray do so." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer think you a quite exceptional woman." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised his knees, staring into the fire. Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of a suggestive one." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, foot. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me in the port of London." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced into her hand at the door and which lured her within their The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been be sorry for having acted so harshly." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." morning." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "'How far from the body?' set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few answer." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found derbies." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with London for the present?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., had no one to advise her at such a crisis." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some McCarthy's innocence. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler said I. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that this man was intellectual?" owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "And how did you verify them?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and fled together." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came at my remark. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Well?" Sutherland?" I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "A client, then?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "Not yet." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence answered with a sidelong glance. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about the Assizes." empty. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my second window is the one that I jumped from." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Yes, certainly." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." will take you up to see the machine.' could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get depend upon your compliance." Holmes' thin, eager face. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "10th. John Swain cleared. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and fear." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at McCarthy." "I cannot tell." "Whose house is it?" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Ah!" "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front trying to your nerves." "But she could not love him." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey you give your casting vote to?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our roused himself from his reverie. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. business?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been matters immensely." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Yesterday." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall or in danger--" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable the Assizes." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "'What do you call purely nominal?' mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these it means?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was help us in this matter." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to