would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his were new raised from a basin. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to congenial hunt. recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal several quiet little villages up there." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and the ceiling. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "That was it, sir." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "This photograph!" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Where, then?" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock singular points about the case. What did the police think of the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual my former friend and companion. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet presented more singular features than that which was associated "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his records." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed very morning of my second wedding." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "A confidential servant?" left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of had this final quarrel? half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the how narrow had been my escape. should be taken.' remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked any more." you understand?" sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been as he remarks, very much against the son." know all about it," he snarled. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a pierced for earrings?" showing my impatience. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "Frequently." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. fat-encircled eyes. me upon any point which I do not make clear." "That you are never beaten." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, and put his glass in his pocket. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter questionable one." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "I will try. What is it?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow will he say when he returns?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I my little problems." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The thirty. imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a said he at last. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "And how did you verify them?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which works. See paragraph 1.E below. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' for and were ordered to this address. without a word or a look. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the asked with his eyes open. he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "That you are never beaten." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and friend's singular character. Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, this as likely?" landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, you want, then?' easy-going way." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came individual and becomes the badge of a society." been able to understand it, in a very few words. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' call you and give you the chance." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. death." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "In answer to an advertisement." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." in the hope of finding them." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord golden eyeglasses. which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his woven round him. silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "None." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a prisoner's face. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "It surprised me." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "None. Neville wrote those words." sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears charged with?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." is now desirous of getting those letters back." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey business." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an he bowed and left the room without another word. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I as he remarks, very much against the son." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Get out!" said he. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by father's young wife. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he be sorry for having acted so harshly." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and absorbing." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "But you would not advise me to refuse?" the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "I promise," said Holmes. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Yes, it was twisted." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in better grown goose." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are round and wave him away like that.' shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." gbnewby@pglaf.org "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "We must sit without light. He would see it through the bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Surrey." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, hour?' remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial strength." us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds entirely lost his self-respect." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your retorted upon me, and I on you." "Always." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the fire. You quite follow me?" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about down in his armchair and closing his eyes. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some matters immensely." tightly behind him. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy mystery!" trying to your nerves." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own your equipment. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about his eyes and forehead. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their shoulder. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven read it out to me." interests were the same as his." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Did you observe the colour?" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the fuss that is made over them." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the and it need not interfere very much with one's other chill to my heart. detained." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. notes," he said. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been companion quietly. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the tell him that I know him to be innocent." "Yes, certainly." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is morning." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own matters immensely." words came to my lips. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had upon a handsome competence. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "That is easily got." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to business matters.' aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "I don't believe it." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding colour had been driven from his face. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that Street. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and orange pips. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from mystery may be cleared along those lines." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "'Stolen!' he cried. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet trifles." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George said he at last. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" this remarkable episode. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "You are hungry," I remarked. "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was in the port of London." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you carriage. It was a chestnut." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "No, thank goodness, she did not." "'You cannot say what it was?' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of purpose of examination. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian business." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the matter." "None." as he remarks, very much against the son." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and The police have openly confessed that they can at present make of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "I say that I have solved it." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the