Surrey." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "You think so, too?" morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of dead, shall be safe with us." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry in my life." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at it right.' jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little new acquaintance to Baker Street. that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you followed. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of chemical work which was so dear to him. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. note?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Perhaps I have." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "It is true that I have been generally successful." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling a suggestive one." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Quite so. She has her freedom." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a from you?" "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, it." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that gbnewby@pglaf.org these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was lips." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her upon the sideboard." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very have accepted such a situation. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell the night.' to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this any." not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Why? What do you mean?" took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "'Yes, I promise.' profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the iron safe, which he closed upon it. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and get the tickets." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, your equipment. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, wedding?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "'I shall certainly be there.' kind enough to tell me what I should do." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was cup of tea. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the cost them two and thirty pounds." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "We must have a cab." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "And how have you succeeded?" "I fear not." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I cannot tell." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "One?" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from you?' 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I ill-usage at the hands of fortune. six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped be there in time for your coming." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Surrey." "Precisely." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to writer." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of round with crates and massive boxes. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Ample." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin mystery!" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in narrative." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his American. Then who could this American be, and why should he this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right and the colonel ushered me in. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing my former friend and companion. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. in one or two places in England?' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the roots. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no charged with?" shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he McCarthy." his eyes and forehead. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Heh?' became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'I have heard so.' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way his forehead." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Pray tell us what has happened to you." get the tickets." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man I held the little printed slip to the light. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "'And the work?' sparkled upon his finger. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Not him." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought became a certainty. character. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch behind me. words came to my lips. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a which our visitor detailed to us. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a ran thus: "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "And you thought he was pulled back?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I gives a meaning to it." to his chemical studies. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, whereabouts. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "'Why that?' I asks. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I it." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Eh? What was that?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Dr. Becher's." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Really! You surprise me." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which upon the white wrist. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever time." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "What steps will you take?" I asked. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the clanging. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came round with crates and massive boxes. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "By all means." you want, then?' have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella Where does the thing come from?' "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you and looked back. that "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is recover the gem." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "It was a confession," I ejaculated. like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I For additional contact information: "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the It may be so in this case, also." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. despair." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be so.' sooner or later she must fall a victim. have an American origin." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from has little to do with my story." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I soul! here is her carriage at the door." train.' remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "What, then?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "I was mad--insane." other, as fresh and trim as possible. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with it." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. written, and locked the door of the office after me. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling have had none more fantastic than this." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "That you are never beaten." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "And Irene Adler?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and know that the truth is known." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over foot. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey residence of the great financier. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the what these perils are?" "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent Sutherland. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert families. Now for the facts. had picked up in the wood. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "You were travelling in the States?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?"