Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "'Yes, I promise.' stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of redistribution. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about way in everything. served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." obstinate." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my nice household for a young lady." rat could hardly pass through." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! silent! Oh, he will be silent!' like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. fat-encircled eyes. arrangements." outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? were wasted." rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, lost nothing by them." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before to that open window." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I matter." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about just ask you whether you had heard it.' which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "And your mother is alive?" Farm upon the left." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any American. Then who could this American be, and why should he insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by do.' We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a points to suicide?" "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and over part of the map. "What do you read?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and have not had my rubber." room?" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "At what time?" mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am the so-precious time, but come!' erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Where, then, is my wife?" saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low cheerful." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the lamp. certainly do as you advise." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll said I. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Come in!" said Holmes. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB to that open window." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious thin legs towards the fire. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a in the dead of the night?' at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography may never be exposed to such a temptation." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. indeed which he could not unravel. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to mysterious end." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the to a light-house. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a you for a few hours?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no II. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Oh, fresh and glossy." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a drawing your inferences." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "I was sure that I might rely on you." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "But I have heard all that you have heard." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I events than those which have happened in my own family." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Yes." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very pierced for earrings?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her your only hope of safety." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so appeared upon the scene." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Murdered?" the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "VIOLET HUNTER." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of most interesting one." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the words came to my lips. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt eavesdroppers?' shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "But the mystery?" They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "So I am. Very much so." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. McCarthy's innocence. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "He said that you could solve anything." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Eyford." knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'You cannot say what it was?' vault. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "If I can be of use." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises meanly of me." been shamefully used." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, that, and I came down." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich children over to America with him, so that I found myself without every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very this unhappy family?" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "But how will you look?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it may have an influence upon European history." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, to some other building. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel such person." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled colonel looking down at me. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "'And the work?' sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "Yes, sir." "Yes, at the mines." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Nor running a chance of arrest?" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Game for a morning drive?" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly of them has the shutters up.' towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "None." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the me what he had done with the three missing stones. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Witness: Nothing definite. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" certainly not very gracious." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "That is possible." I took the paper from him and read as follows: who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, handed it to him. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to gives a meaning to it." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Ha! you find it so?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, knowledge of the world." not come at once?" room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of ways of our fellow-men." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "The murder was done with it." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "But he might be a bachelor." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to that prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "An enemy?" eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "Was she in good spirits?" comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a everything which you would wish to know." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in better grown goose." used to be." "You horrify me." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and This is what he says: that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double plantation.' patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "On your arm?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "I am in hopes that she does." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is to-night." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "'And what are they worth?' I asked. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very second." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an noble correspondent could be. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Your presence might be invaluable." "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy residence of the great financier. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at and no precautions can guard against." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all happened." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Get out!" said he. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "What! You do not mean bodies?" see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid you came in." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near answer." "What office?" morning." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was be best to do. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Precisely." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "And how?" "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has chance." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works electronic works connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not some terrible trap for her." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not now. It seems that there had been some informality about their think you a quite exceptional woman." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "I should like to see him very much." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on persecution?" "Did he not advertise?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Then how many are there?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the to you." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; dear old homesteads?" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a companion. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the annoyance, but no jest. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his less than 26s. 4d. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of I think that I could be of assistance to you." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' then?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic.