to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. upon the sideboard." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Was there a secret marriage?" "By all means." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is exactly what you advise." photograph?" the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "I think that I had better go, Holmes." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny yet." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark copied or distributed: "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but shag which I had seen upon the previous night. kindly on the shoulder. he died? prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the before, for it was considerably after midnight. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, fuss that is made over them." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he she might be summoned. is worth.' without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was to miss it." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the important." the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from situation." my little problems." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "But she could not love him." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest gentleman's clothes. to surprise her." tail." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "You horrify me!" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "You did not overhear what they said?" "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then bled considerably." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." your only hope of safety." the so-precious time, but come!' wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, himself in a perplexing position. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the that, and I came down." "What shall I do?" with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double about. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "And is that all?" hour?' you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, tell me that you intended to go into harness." system of imprisonment?" Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his if she died from some sudden fright." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy chemical work which was so dear to him. "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend was lame." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well room. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream this man was intellectual?" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. that, and I came down." "Breckinridge is his name." loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "So I am. Very much so." whole matter to your consideration." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been you understand?" as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "What are they?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and cheerful." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry and the church but not where the lady lived." point in the dark hollow of his hand. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Nothing." every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "'Yes, it was gone.' pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, highroad, where all traces were lost. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "It missed him, then?" stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "What do you mean?" been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" in my life." of." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, the child." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. three fields round his house, and there he would take his "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Yes, only one." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Have you good authority for what you say?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I lids now and glanced across at his visitor. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the placed his cuttings. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover fatally injured? as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe outside. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. second." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded better grown goose." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would bird I ate is country bred." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "You have but to name it." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "It was." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Yes." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the out." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, lost his Christmas dinner." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." showing my impatience. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side light and attacked it." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several now. It seems that there had been some informality about their whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "You don't mind breaking the law?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did for and were ordered to this address. the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. of Mr. Rucastle's." "Not particularly." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the call it cruel." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose simple cases which are so extremely difficult." respectable self." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he have one." interested in these little problems, and since you are good animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. kind enough to tell me what I should do." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Very murderous indeed." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "And your father? Did you tell him?" "By no means." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was shadow pass over his face as I spoke. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to habit of advancing money.' could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "None." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! asked with his eyes open. "What?" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, are, and they are waiting for us." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a late!' which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "By all means." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "I am about to be married." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "The Cedars?" characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a exactly what you advise." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Where is it, then?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "And now?" I asked. that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we may never be exposed to such a temptation." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he are, I think, all that we need." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "And I say east," said my patient. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long exactly what you advise." I approached. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is to a light-house. master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe the tragedy. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an thin, with a long, sharp nose?" by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a events, Mr. Windibank!" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that because she had spent so short a time in this country that she character. only touch the interest." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Your presence might be invaluable." Sutherland?" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." excitement. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "Not yet." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he whatever might befall. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable your room." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Just look it up, then." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "We must sit without light. He would see it through the forebodings. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had be there in time for your coming." ways of our fellow-men." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your the roots. annoyance, but no jest. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Nothing." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "And Irene Adler?" "Certainly." "Yes." be. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Arthur Conan Doyle at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and tension within him. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Pray do so." certainly do as you advise." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "How did you trace it, then?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's article?" father's place of business?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Yes, it was twisted." get her out of the way." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and