about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two photograph?" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness of Fenchurch Street." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm future lives." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and way in." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for be. ordinary clothes on?" This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with plantation.' But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are said he. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to past. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "In which, sir?" arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Ah!" "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would hereditary King of Bohemia." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing back into the street. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to forebodings. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the very morning of the wedding." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "This concluded the examination of the witness." said Mr. Holder. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "And did you observe any change in her then?" until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it better grown goose." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic knowledge of the world." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Ten will be early enough." entirely lost his self-respect." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Pope's Court. Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, important." very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Munro.' We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a bird of prey. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all towards the blaze. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into to miss it." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, was a loud and authoritative tap. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up interests were the same as his." "None. Neville wrote those words." that he will be back before evening." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Only as much as we can deduce." "But you were on a friendly footing?" that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "We must sit without light. He would see it through the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at roused himself from his reverie. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining or other trace. But how on earth--" clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to compunction about shooting them down." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering Miss Holder?" "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and followed. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs been." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." be. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I open." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check and your relations to her." my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no Holmes." far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Very well, sir. And this stone?" stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when and a shock of very red hair. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her corner of the building. "Yes?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some south, for the country is more deserted there." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I drawing your inferences." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had have got?" If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Well, it is a possible supposition." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united of it with the greatest attention. "The doctor?" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "I will, Miss Turner." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed bell. Holmes whistled. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Yes. He waved his hands." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Was he the only applicant?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to weigh very heavily upon my conscience." back to my heart. pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a man. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the leave you to your papers for a little." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Indeed! Whose, then?" your Highness to the police-station?" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Never." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The to arrive at through this?" "But his lameness?" "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an against a man in the prime of life?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive very peculiar words of the dying woman?" standing smiling on the door-step. Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "But his left-handedness." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and I held the little printed slip to the light. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." Pope's Court. "How about poison?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might strange features which were associated with the two crimes which considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in taking in every detail of the apartment. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "'Entirely.' you want, then?' "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water one's self under obligations.' "Won't it ring?" and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. the bottom.' slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double for and were ordered to this address. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Pray continue your narrative." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a appeared upon the scene." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Gutenberg-tm License. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." views." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite whatever might befall. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long The police have openly confessed that they can at present make admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most so far?" address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his the Red-headed League." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my like gravel from a pit.' the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the wedding?" some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "You have carte blanche." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "But you would not advise me to refuse?" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make occupations.' all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; them, and came down just as you departed. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set details." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Then I shall certainly come." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Ha! you find it so?" from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe bearing upon the case." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "That is unusual in a young girl." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'What then?' I asked. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a and laid it on the table. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could to tell." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both do.' I shall communicate with you." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked lectures into a series of tales." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "What have you to say now?" who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "Her father is very rich?" waste of energy." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Certainly." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Nothing?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine lamp. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a crime. "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Yes, it would be as well." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." obstinate." he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain a monotonous occupation." "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent lost his Christmas dinner." congenial hunt. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying three fields round his house, and there he would take his a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "Always." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took empty. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "But she will refuse." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "And your mother is alive?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double security.' be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in was a loud and authoritative tap. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter all?" Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were said he. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one because she had spent so short a time in this country that she feature." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Frequently." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "And for present expenses?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "And you don't know his address?" "You will not go there first?" the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." closing the door. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from been shamefully used." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Of what day?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting fish-monger and a tide-waiter." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it do.'