opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the outsides of the windows. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress side. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "He disappeared so suddenly." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently not use it unless it is absolutely needed." which was all perfectly true. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "It's nothing of the kind." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. might have a private word with us. flock.' "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved way in." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last searched, without anything being found which could incriminate presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. away to you." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "What is it, then--a fire?" and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "But his lameness?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "I will do it." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "'I am sure that I do not know.' faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Surrey." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted so far?" London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the to-morrow." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "But she could not love him." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary looking up at the numbers of the houses." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Sholtos." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, gigantic client. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I 'I should be able to look after that for you.' Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little remarked. to miss it." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Pray do so." friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Where, then, is my wife?" confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently ways of our fellow-men." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door which our visitor detailed to us. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Quite so." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." business in the City. She little knew what. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "I will, Miss Turner." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and suspect him." bonnet, and went out." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have himself in a perplexing position. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being one or two very singular points about this room. For example, money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in residence of the great financier. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I whatever might befall. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of mysterious business." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "You horrify me!" the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his third from London." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking my former friend and companion. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" depend upon your compliance." "What, then, did Peterson do?" this man was intellectual?" very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our chambers. "What do you mean?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Perfectly so." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all the child." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to down in his armchair and closing his eyes. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "Your French gold?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in "Murdered?" read over the extraordinary announcement. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a over part of the map. "What do you read?" Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "'Yes.' "'There is a drive, then?' She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "They are typewritten," I remarked. The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in must be when I saw the door open.' shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his tell them apart.' gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to make me his representative both with the servants and with the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I it right.' conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "What, then?" without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain side. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything the little opening for the ventilator is." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself wanted for ourselves." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love developed." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and delirious. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will I approached. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give examine." heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all awkward doing business with an alias." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which British peeress.'" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad standing smiling on the door-step. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his until night should bring an explanation. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress was used.' analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project yourselves in at night?" glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "And how?" "Won't it ring?" other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain so.' guilty one." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting less than 26s. 4d. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying seen the man in the road." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search remarked. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we and your relations to her." my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "Then how many are there?" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." following enigmatical notices: "And sit in the dark?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her problems help me to do so." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking know that the truth is known." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "In answer to an advertisement." man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "You forget that I know nothing about it." memory. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "I will not look." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over more terrible than the truth. papers." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised undoubtedly my uncle's." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents lost his Christmas dinner." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Yes, sir." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the beg that you will break it off." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "And the cigar-holder?" "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was breakfast?" "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." carpenter." "Not him." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, train.' "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Eyford." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "Pray do so." "Yes." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "My dear Holmes!" "By no means." once more for Briony Lodge. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "But I am all in the dark." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's retorted upon me, and I on you." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom strode off upon his way. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of come either from the window or the door. My attention was pierced for earrings?" overpowering excitement and concern. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and leaning back in his chair. showing my impatience. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the standing smiling on the door-step. was shining brightly. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every you want, then?' seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is The summons was a brief and urgent one. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Will you go?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing of the efforts of the United States government and of the better it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very I was concerned in it." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I already referred to. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "What! You do not mean bodies?" you came in." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "I would pay ten." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good charged with?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a presented which may be striking and bizarre without being three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. sofa. This way, please!" whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working secret." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "I shall be delighted." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know