so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Not in a good cause." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, to Leatherhead. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will best detective that ever lived. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with tell him that I know him to be innocent." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few one of them." "What do you make of that, Watson?" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from British peeress.'" of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Edgeware Road. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Of Friday, June 19th." least a fellow-countryman. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Then how many are there?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "No, I am descending." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Not yet." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do locked. of Fenchurch Street." south, for the country is more deserted there." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the himself in a perplexing position. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "'I am sure that I do not know.' "You think that he is dead?" For additional contact information: blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "'What then?' I asked. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they is now desirous of getting those letters back." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must derbies." The King stared at him in amazement. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. introspective fashion. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as chill to my heart. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, followed. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular fat-encircled eyes. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is that you saw all that I did." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out again." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the better grown goose." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round this Miss Turner." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes later, upon the night of May 2nd." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom Foundation after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Can I be of assistance?" my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a his cane at the bell-pull. it." to affect your life." and have this put in the evening papers." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he round and wave him away like that.' "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without skylight. I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Why? What do you mean?" "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, be best to do. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove "Not in the least." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. just called myself is not exactly my own." discontent upon his features. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred o'clock is it?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Pray let us have it, for all that." voice. closing the door. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "I shall most certainly do so." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round enter Dr. Roylott's room." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." until night should bring an explanation. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a the warnings." direction." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Entirely." stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, Leadenhall Street--and--" those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "But how did you gain them?" "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this and wait." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I answered that I had not. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may http://www.gutenberg.net "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, very old mansion. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry what is your own theory as to what took place?" which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "I cannot think." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I vanished into the darkness. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him my friend's incisive reasoning. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and have an American origin." "By no means." "What can you not understand?" seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads and have this put in the evening papers." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something whereabouts. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two secret." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? business came to an end." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "That is also quite modern," said the lady. don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, get the tickets." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the Edgeware Road. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an one's self under obligations.' trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but good-night and bustled off upon her way. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "But you have hopes?" we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in within hail.' to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "'You cannot say what it was?' more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "Is he quiet?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "How about poison?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black The events in question occurred in the early days of my unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this Count Von Kramm." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in was a perfect sample of the class. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in it right.' Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What chill to my heart. again on its way. of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "Thank you. And your address?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Watson," he said cordially. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I it right.' shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "What will you do, then?" used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Doctor, of the paper and the date." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "What steps will you take?" I asked. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Yes." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a him. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Not yet." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled on re-entering her father's house?" nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "He said that you could solve anything." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally are, I think, all that we need." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' some place of shelter and let the county police know what has side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and will be renamed. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, it." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "I cannot think." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this The events in question occurred in the early days of my subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend brandy and water within his reach. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Pope's Court. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "And I to find an enemy." Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not washing it down with a long draught of water. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Won't it ring?" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "I will try. What is it?" relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may lectures into a series of tales." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "He is dead," cried several voices. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." and a shock of very red hair. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed page at http://pglaf.org happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite would apply.' in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "It looks newer than the other things?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very to have that photograph." down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone tapping his fingers upon the table. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp will not take me long to tell. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us points to suicide?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered tell me that you intended to go into harness." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "And how have you succeeded?" "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "How many? I don't know." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I that threaten you." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike get her out of the way." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "And I say east," said my patient. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable deduce something from that?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner and effective." was shining brightly. "I cannot imagine." to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his my secret was safe in his possession. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque some place of shelter and let the county police know what has opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we in. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled