left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Street. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her front of me. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Yes, sir." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Witness: Nothing definite. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the more solid." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have locked. ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." ran thus: age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "No." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "What, then?" charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and his forehead." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "So I am. Very much so." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "What then?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Pool. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. page at http://pglaf.org "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Do you know him?" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do second." "What are they?" washing it down with a long draught of water. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Of Friday, June 19th." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and entirely lost his self-respect." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the Street. over here." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "And how did you find out?" upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes mystery may be cleared along those lines." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a fear." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "May I see it?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Game for a morning drive?" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon this remarkable episode. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "No, distinctly professional." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the The events in question occurred in the early days of my the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in have had none more fantastic than this." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a character. nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' soul! here is her carriage at the door." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "What do you make of that, Watson?" Mrs. Toller serenely. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the better grown goose." a suggestive one." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "You have but to name it." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the Foundation lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass gives a meaning to it." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window that before taking the final step I should like to submit the can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction do you make of it all?" him to be an active member of the medical profession." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "My stepfather's business papers." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey nonsense.' but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my colour had been driven from his face. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I case-book, which he consulted. "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking chill to my heart. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Were they all fastened this morning?" a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "I promise," said Holmes. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Absolutely none." "What steps will you take?" I asked. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an Lestrade of Scotland Yard." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "And how did you find out?" know what is wrong with it.' "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms had a long day." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he hands. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying heavily into it. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With for its centre. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar she has been waylaid. There has been no result." voice. remarked. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "How do you know, then?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "One of the highest in England." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where name is different." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake not interfere, come what may. You understand?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "So I have heard." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my coroner's jury." when you have done it." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "The murder was done with it." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Yes, certainly." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "Quite so." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the is worth.' With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. three fields round his house, and there he would take his more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the keep the flames under. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A character. I took the paper from him and read as follows: Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was the matter?" the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated really the only notable feature about the thing." active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "But you have hopes?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I fear not." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Why, what do you mean?" them?" she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "I am about to be married." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan have not had my rubber." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able sneer upon his pale face. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in again, where I was soon asleep. should be so warm over such a trifle." "But not more so than I to find you." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while your bag." "But I have heard all that you have heard." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty God! What an exposure! What can I do?" knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of the best of training." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "And now?" I asked. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and the colonel ushered me in. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple place of silver." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I threw himself down with his face to the pillow. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar open." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. weary and pale-looking. unprecedented a position." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "My dear Holmes!" kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a true." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. the side-table." you." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Then you may entirely rely on me." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "But how did you gain them?" hair?' Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Can I be of assistance?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the chance at all." beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Certainly." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "'Certainly not. But why?' manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Witness: It was. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "How long did she speak to this Alice?" say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't deduce something from that?" knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom then?" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, me what he had done with the three missing stones. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg young Openshaw's." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a to miss it." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "But the mystery?" and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the