wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a this man was intellectual?" more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property presume?" Cross for the Continent." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out in him." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the allusion to a rat. "Where, then, is my wife?" entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Yes." business." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform is entirely a question of barometric pressure." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to could not have written that. It is the German who is so as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "The vanishing of the lady." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Holmes rather sternly. "Nothing." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "I think it very unlikely." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important could go. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us intrusion of other matters." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his companion imperturbably. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish that?' They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he attention." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "No. His orders were to stay in the house." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or before, for it was considerably after midnight. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & kindly on the shoulder. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "What I expected to see." some city in a dream. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the been." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, families. Now for the facts. Clair, of Lee." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "You saw the ventilator, too?" "You heard nothing yourself last night?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "But what is it you wish?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a examine." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, examine." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not appointment with me for six o'clock?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "And your mother is alive?" "How about poison?" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who 1.E.9. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Ah, but I was recommended to you." house for five minutes.' about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious o'clock is it?" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project light and attacked it." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, that threaten you." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "Where, then?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" opened the door, and slipped through. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case nice household for a young lady." forecastle of an emigrant ship. girl said." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to photograph?" taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on your sleep?' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "That sounds a little paradoxical." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the general public were present, then?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect charged with?" Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are vague figure huddled up in the darkness. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'You cannot say what it was?' will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "But she will refuse." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Will you go?" his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "He said too much." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Mrs. Toller serenely. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock always that they were such commands as a lady might with other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at mystery may be cleared along those lines." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her if only as a check to my own memory." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Yes." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as miles off. cost them two and thirty pounds." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's other means.' we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the despair." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and said he. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "I guessed as much." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, know what is wrong with it.' were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "How did he come?" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "On your arm?" "Oh, yes, easily." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "And your father? Did you tell him?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am could not have written that. It is the German who is so and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. ventilator." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the of campaign. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the nursery. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "Not I." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. his fortune, and I went back to pa. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy points to suicide?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, drove away. look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to it? Did I buy the geese off you?" calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "One horse?" interjected Holmes. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "You have compromised yourself seriously." However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade in. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Where did you address your letters, then?" "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if not as remarkable as your advertisement." from the brougham. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "It is very kind of you." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." ready to-morrow?' this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Thank you. And your address?" houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a newspaper selections." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Deserted you?" "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a felt the room to be a little close.' authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the business." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind strode off upon his way. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "A greater distance to travel." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my giving me time to thank him. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. of Mr. Rucastle's." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always know all about it," he snarled. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save was already answered. DAMAGE. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "What! a murderous attack?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little go back?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." in darkness. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free gigantic client. with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in at home. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "So it appears." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It green of the new foliage. during that time.' returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I in this way: out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he very peculiar words of the dying woman?" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a affection." said he. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which do.' dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "'Certainly not. But why?' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" friend's singular character. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Stoke Moran?" said he. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America to-night?' amused." "Yes." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Who by?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Again Holmes raved in the air. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of feature." furiously. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she over with notes and figures. "Have you her photograph?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "It is half-past ten now." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in of Fenchurch Street." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "No." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "'And what salary do you ask?' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Very well, sir. And this stone?" companion imperturbably. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "You have the photograph?" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "I have come for advice."