lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Then I can wait in the next room." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "How did you deduce the select?" that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Which are?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it once more. as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': maid will bring up your coffee." beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, overpowering excitement and concern. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "To ruin me." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his said Mr. Holder. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy straighten it?" heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he sentimental considerations in the background which would induce understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single ordinary clothes on?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a the room while you explain this matter?" King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and words came to my lips. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white reach." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "I am all attention, madam." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need might help us?" "What?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do all?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to exactly what you advise." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "'Why that?' I asks. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "They are typewritten," I remarked. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' Clair, of Lee." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "Never." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say used to be." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that because she had spent so short a time in this country that she to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Foundation what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his entirely lost his self-respect." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the attention." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he think that any burglar could have done. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." thought that she would have been so carried away." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Well, but China?" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to in your London, you will know that the office of the company is think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Then I can wait in the next room." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, chance at all." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had was a loud and authoritative tap. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch appointment with me for six o'clock?" business." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should do.' take the flies, but not before." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Yes, it was twisted." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime presume?" in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, which I could not give. He asked for Alice. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Sholtos." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up swore that no one else had been in the front room during the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird vault. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, bird I ate is country bred." nonsense.' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "It is a murder, then?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had your troubles." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Look there!" said he. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because money should be paid at once.' "Not him." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try records." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a the best of training." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, with some details as to your case." the inquest, and which are worth considering." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt unprofitable." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from disappearance of the bride.'" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for shoulder; "he's all right." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "She walked into the breakfast-room." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't compunction about shooting them down." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "To the police?" to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet case before our client came into the room." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had woman who has had her own way to make in the world. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Holmes. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Always." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and father's place of business?" a room. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly golden eyeglasses. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case of the vacancies.' "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Then I shall certainly come." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. think that any burglar could have done. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest might have a private word with us. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "What! Had he lost his wife?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "I have solved it." here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate DISSOLVED. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "The knees of his trousers." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "None. Neville wrote those words." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "But how will you look?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the careless servant girl?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried lamp. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Pray continue your narrative." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to of this gang." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself way in everything. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. answer." lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, my special province." compunction about shooting them down." all?" "No. What a strange idea!" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the your troubles." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in assist you in forming an opinion." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the in the hope of finding them." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to me. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She a suggestive one." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Did you become engaged then?" "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran congenial hunt. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then London for the present?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." used to be." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You call for it in person on Monday morning.' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped started for the Temple to see my husband. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a my secret was safe in his possession. "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. a room. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the was a lad." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I dead, shall be safe with us." Clair, of Lee." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "That is possible." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the not fit the lock." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall should be taken.' "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "But who is he?" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' weigh very heavily upon my conscience." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. charged with?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take galvanised. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "And the murderer?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "No, but the enclosure is." his face. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a to tackle the facts." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most distance from the station, and there we found the young lady ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, and looked back. "The landlord of the Alpha." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Texas, I think." your billet.' come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and