his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be details." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our John Swain, of St. Augustine. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; done what I asked you, Jones?" "I think that it is very probable." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. that, and I came down." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was of a light. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed or other trace. But how on earth--" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "And for present expenses?" "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in Surrey." know all about it," he snarled. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and direction." Eyford." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the night.' house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, third from London." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible during the last few years, and there are many noble families to style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "And why in hopes?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "It's nothing of the kind." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature learned something! Where are the gems?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some to Leatherhead. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in child?' of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working grasp, he hurried from the room. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In enough to aid us in our search." his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out answer." eat it." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a chair. coroner's jury." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Gutenberg-tm License. Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Ample." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "I am all attention, madam." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' fact, we may call it conclusive." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as papers diligently of late, have you not?" of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "And Miss Sutherland?" a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' with you?" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "I fear not." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course as yours." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on one of them." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by when you have done it." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Married! When?" street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. a monotonous occupation." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "My opinion is in no way altered." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. question," said Holmes, smiling. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing lamp. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City lids now and glanced across at his visitor. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a later, upon the night of May 2nd." photograph?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. wall." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Really! You surprise me." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Nearly eleven." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the there when the Rucastles went away." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to touch that coronet?' you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a you." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. formed some opinion?" protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Edgeware Road. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for compunction about shooting them down." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, you want, then?' papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too again, where I was soon asleep. made him keep the appointment." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between detective. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "How did you trace it, then?" plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "So I am. Very much so." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each public press." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, fattened it expressly for you.' a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "And Miss Sutherland?" "Oh, yes, easily." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that very morning of my second wedding." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any McCarthy." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Thank you. And your address?" "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was occurred." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass behind me. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'You doubt its value?' he asked. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent long narrative. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange ways of our fellow-men." "Then I shall certainly come." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "I beg pardon." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, exactly what you advise." clanging. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an companion. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a think that any burglar could have done. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" and put his glass in his pocket. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of placed his cuttings. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, away into the river." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue pity, because in other respects you would really have done very believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "We must have a cab." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments were unconscious?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a outside. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly pound a week." gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little sufficient punishment." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged his face which made him a very different person to the round, "The Cedars?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his system of imprisonment?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar congratulate you again." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where interests were the same as his." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Of what day?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "But you would not advise me to refuse?" room had already been engaged for us. "Yes." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare the Friday. Was it to be in church?" that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "Certainly." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," me upon any point which I do not make clear." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "And from a noble client?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at ordinary clothes on?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it society." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "And your mother is alive?" was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he trifles." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case Clair, of Lee." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at politicians who had been sent down from the North. assist you in forming an opinion." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "I am sure." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and the dangers which encompass me." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of learned something! Where are the gems?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "Where, then?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I coat-tails." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. death." her also." I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at my special province." "Who was the criminal, then?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms some place of shelter and let the county police know what has trifles." sofa. This way, please!" think that he is innocent?" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. redistribution. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the stepfather?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "No." Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "No. What a strange idea!" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it fluttered off among the others. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no not interfere, come what may. You understand?" strength of mind to control. manager. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'Yes, it was gone.' about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in