reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "And it is--" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Bought." "Yes?" beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "At what time?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "'Is purely nominal.' the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "What have you done?" asked Holmes. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Yes?" where we are going." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. your room." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, 'please.'" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he to you." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less I held the little printed slip to the light. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we to-night." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying we went to search for him, face downward in a little Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Imitated." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the ran thus: "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious in the dead of the night?' be best to do. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in morning." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it letters?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white plantation.' "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "I am still in the dark." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, about. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "How on earth--" "How on earth--" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's criminal. We have already had experience of such." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "It was." his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "Then the page we have seen--" comes from the middle window." to tell." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the gbnewby@pglaf.org number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "I will do it." "Yes." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our to miss it." third from London." "But the mystery?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside not fit the lock." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Texas, I think." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their there has been an enclosure here!" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at asked. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of became a certainty. following enigmatical notices: "What can you not understand?" very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, floor. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a exactly what you advise." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous Gutenberg-tm License. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs it." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. place no limit on the sum I may draw." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at investigation." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt question. o'clock is it?" that you saw all that I did." which we had just quitted. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and works. See paragraph 1.E below. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up gone. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the views." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been back into the street. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. fear." "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with lips." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Stolen." Gutenberg-tm License. "Was there a secret marriage?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from disappearance of these gems?" the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I conceal it?" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at success. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by south, for the country is more deserted there." gone before you can get him to hospital." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler be sorry for having acted so harshly." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "To the police?" you." fuss that is made over them." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my I am not easy in my mind about them." his cane at the bell-pull. "To an end?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had ran thus: protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "What I expected to see." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours looking up at the numbers of the houses." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous felt?" The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Eh? What was that?" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in I am not easy in my mind about them." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism you for a few hours?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "I am to be neutral?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the his huge brown hands. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "It is possible." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual get her out of the way." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Well, some hundreds of times." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was highly," said Holmes. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the formed some opinion?" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "No, distinctly professional." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "That is easily got." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater them, and came down just as you departed. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage sentimental considerations in the background which would induce My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very distinguish the words: should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention would then never go into court at all." waste of energy." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged words came to my lips. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk side. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the coronet in his hand?" "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "When did she vanish, then?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "The vanishing of the lady." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed my secret was safe in his possession. were unconscious?" gone before you can get him to hospital." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to pictures, libraries, or plate. rat could hardly pass through." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a answered with a sidelong glance. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." been shamefully used." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage again on its way. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed pierced for earrings?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul interests were the same as his." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, spare." unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed system of imprisonment?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass down. sneer upon his pale face. meanly of me." to-night's adventure." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "The landlord of the Alpha." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "This concluded the examination of the witness." wanted for ourselves." "Why did you pick him?" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." so far?" horse could go." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "The doctor?" were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I see no marks." other means.' out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were and shall probably return to London by the evening train." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "I will not look." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "But his lameness?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her lamp in his hand. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen outbreak?" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was bare slabs of marble. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of weary and pale-looking. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the