insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold becomes even more simple." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" fattened it expressly for you.' complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, even of instruction." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Who by?" I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Munro.' machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem some city in a dream. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age giving me time to thank him. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a over his head with a sweet womanly caress. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Then the page we have seen--" invisible to me," I remarked. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," system of imprisonment?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "It is solved." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of question. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" direction." "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Of what day?" locked. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "But you would not advise me to refuse?" which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, you in your example." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project interested in these little problems, and since you are good someone who had been in Australia." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Thank you. Pray proceed." "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two your troubles." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the key turn in the lock." lumber-room." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six I. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may call you and give you the chance." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Murdered?" "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella indeed which he could not unravel. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." in his power. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "You will not go there first?" sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. clanging. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is as noiselessly as she had come. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. that?' learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock compunction about shooting them down." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left them present such singular features as the strange train of frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an manager. stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "And who is her maid?" "And why in hopes?" could gather together that I was able to avert another public constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Come in!" said Holmes. owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he purpose equally well?" "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first train.' "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' during that time.' "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Oh, fresh and glossy." shoulder; "he's all right." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about himself. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "That is possible." was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose jewels which you have stolen?' if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two became a certainty. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Certainly." you came in." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" get the tickets." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Yes." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "An accident, I presume?" "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are straightened it out again. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'Certainly not.' is entirely a question of barometric pressure." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "That sounds a little paradoxical." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your strong reason behind." Surrey." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of in my life." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "A confidential servant?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I never have." and put his glass in his pocket. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the hour?' the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "My last client of the sort was a king." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be is worth.' "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "You did not overhear what they said?" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Literary Archive Foundation lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by I held the little printed slip to the light. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "That is possible." British peeress.'" both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "I do." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It Doctor, of the paper and the date." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable his eyes and forehead. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "I have my revolver," said I. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "You are hungry," I remarked. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident business in the City. She little knew what. "Yes." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "Dr. Becher's." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "And you thought he was pulled back?" tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, gigantic client. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was newspaper selections." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy when you have done it." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "'I am sure that I do not know.' after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean with her." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square depend upon your compliance." address. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same any little problem which you may submit to me." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "'Ten to two.' him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had gone before you can get him to hospital." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have stalked out of the room. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a spare." again, where I was soon asleep. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before already been minutely examined." "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had woven round him. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the general public were present, then?" or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon are, and they are waiting for us." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become past. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be miles off. but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Street. conclusions. "Ha! you find it so?" these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Yes, at the mines." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two distance from the station, and there we found the young lady which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying quick march!" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency call the police, let the police find what they can.' machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "'And the work?' "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which society." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled miles off. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "And how did you verify them?" "Where, then, is my wife?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little appointment with me for six o'clock?" convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Then you may entirely rely on me." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if comes from the middle window." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the learned something! Where are the gems?" the best of training." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. allusion to a rat. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who placed his cuttings. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "What of the rat, then?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these the bed, and you in that chair." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." pressing in one house as in another. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as chambers.