"Yes." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a vanished into the darkness. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when lips." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Only as much as we can deduce." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a that you wished to speak to me?' words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "But what harm can there be in that?" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the where she found matters as described by the last witness. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Count Von Kramm." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the the driver. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that is," said he presently: "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "'I shall certainly be there.' electronic works husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking what these perils are?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I guessed as much." pound a week." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "'I shall certainly be there.' perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements chair. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew face and glided from the room. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." an introduction to him?" delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "'Yes, I promise.' panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging characteristics, but those are the more obvious." morning." nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "That is easily got." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "Do you receive much company?" he asked. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a plantation.' yards of it?' the loss of it. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the late!' went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to habit of advancing money.' "There is the writing." the side-table." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to written. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There your co-operation." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper redistribution. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "I answered that I had not. "In the cells." lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no with you?" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk sufficient punishment." then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious woman who has had her own way to make in the world. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up and have this put in the evening papers." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed to a more successful conclusion." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Then, as to money?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" humiliation." "Where, then?" ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "Then what has happened to him?" only touch the interest." "Oh, fresh and glossy." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately records." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was you." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave my friend's incisive reasoning. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. used to be." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We breakfast and whispered something to her husband. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he enter Dr. Roylott's room." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "It certainly sounds feasible." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "There are none." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "One of his hands." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "What, then, did Peterson do?" colour had been driven from his face. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Not in a good cause." observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for conduct the inquiry." with you?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his depend upon your compliance." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "That is possible." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "And you don't know his address?" compunction about shooting them down." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only to-night?" I asked. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "VIOLET HUNTER." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "But she could not love him." though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do him, that man would not have given me such complete information "I saw her in conversation with her maid." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the night.' "Certainly, madam." "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's know that the truth is known." suddenly upon us." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to I have it here in my museum." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Yes, they were peculiar boots." of a light. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with little trying to do so much typewriting?" him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, lectures into a series of tales." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not examination of the premises, but without finding anything which events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Pray do so." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'Ample.' correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. feature." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear electronic works feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Did you become engaged then?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning This is what he says: "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we question," said Holmes, smiling. "Her father is very rich?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Certainly." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own down in his armchair and closing his eyes. asked with his eyes open. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You the address that was given us in the advertisement. habit of advancing money.' of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Yes." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Then you may entirely rely on me." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He envelope. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" woven round him. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the them, and came down just as you departed. My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "Who by?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Well?" bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I his eyes and forehead. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." said Mr. Holder. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve mysterious business." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the crime." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." who was a member of your goose club." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold suddenly upon us." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not fish-monger and a tide-waiter." The events in question occurred in the early days of my more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong third from London." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this would then never go into court at all." of them has the shutters up.' sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. something of him before." than to us. she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us second." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then door?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Project Gutenberg-tm works. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "You will not go there first?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar companion imperturbably. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, exactly what you advise." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "Yes?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable directly by questioning you." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. companion. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Deserted you?" thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Where did you address your letters, then?" throat." jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Why serious?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I have hopes." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very already referred to. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank chamber." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, bled considerably." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Ample." forebodings. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that chance at all." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said and the colonel ushered me in. and the colonel ushered me in. "Proceed, then." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "How do you know, then?"