values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "Yes, at the mines." possible that we could bring him back to her? "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could points in connection with it which never have been, and probably transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to strong reason behind." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at in his hands." "Not in a good cause." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Yes." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Again Holmes raved in the air. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "9th. McCauley cleared. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I it." figure." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through his knees, staring into the fire. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell fashion which was peculiar to him. "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Do you go out much in society?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There him to go away.' the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "How did he come?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not prison!" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "It certainly sounds feasible." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the six. Come in!" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we least a most suspicious remark." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps even of instruction." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found pressing in one house as in another. your sleep?' then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in served to weaken the effect. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair http://www.gutenberg.net "About a month then." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he sound at heart." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "But how did you gain them?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place chance." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in placed his cuttings. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four your own bird, so if you wish--" "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no this remarkable episode. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that have accepted such a situation. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Pray do so." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink used to be." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Not him." The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the showing my impatience. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Yes." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Come in!" said he. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, them present such singular features as the strange train of "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "When did it break out?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "No." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a shoulder. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "But not more so than I to find you." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at learned something! Where are the gems?" afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot as yours." "I should be immensely obliged to you." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "What! You do not mean bodies?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "May I see it?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "I should wish to." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of remarked. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "'In my own bureau.' "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is taking in every detail of the apartment. ashen face. once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress fait accompli?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "You saw the ventilator, too?" from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Then, as to money?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you of campaign. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and and capable of preserving a secret.' by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I don't say that. Perhaps." neither fascinating nor artistic." red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Yes, it was twisted." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project to have been novel and of interest." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Yes, it was twisted." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others correct than the official force." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous to you." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing important." was feeling which was the fattest.' of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning charge against him will break down." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful cheerful." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Which are?" dead, shall be safe with us." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. I nodded to show that I had heard. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "A confidential servant?" luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "I guessed as much." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge about. knowledge of the world." "How on earth--" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked to arrive at through this?" doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Quite so." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my possible that we could bring him back to her? our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, the roots. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it unclasping of his long thin hands. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "It surprised me." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Did you become engaged then?" practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Not yet." "'There is a drive, then?' back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I to some other building. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some wedding?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, disturbance in my wife." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are get her out of the way." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, of Fenchurch Street." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "Oh, the cause is excellent!" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "You will not go there first?" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who and the colonel ushered me in. wedding?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "You have but to name it." "Pray let us have it, for all that." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning upon the sideboard." the nursery. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Eh? What was that?" "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "You think that he is dead?" civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite breakfast." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making behind me. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "He said too much." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my leaning back in his chair. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very when your master had gone out." go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "In answer to an advertisement." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when presented more singular features than that which was associated have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of head. So long, then!" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "'Never.' the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious other lovers by making love himself." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Imitated." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with astonishment. point in the dark hollow of his hand. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present floor. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had compunction about shooting them down." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no ways of our fellow-men." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the daring than any effort of the imagination." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the coat-tails." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. where we are going." passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "The landlord of the Alpha." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the him and tried to hold him back. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in unkempt, staring out at me. she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly cigars in their mouths. noting anything else of interest. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "If so, much may have happened between." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Not I." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." used to be." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "It came here." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you before, for it was considerably after midnight. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge trying to your nerves." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "Why serious?" in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. is a common subject for conversation. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a intimate personal affairs in this public manner."