greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he I am not easy in my mind about them." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "An accident, I presume?" over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden ways of our fellow-men." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong least a fellow-countryman. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "'Where could I find him?' whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "'Entirely.' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, or in danger--" distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "A greater distance to travel." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." bedroom door." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Nothing." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both I have it here in my museum." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "You are certainly joking, Holmes." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to his face which made him a very different person to the round, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. But Holmes shook his head gravely. seem to you to be relevant or not." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Nearly eleven." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which the inquest, and which are worth considering." may never be exposed to such a temptation." Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'Ample.' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some there when the Rucastles went away." character. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "And from a noble client?" "Why? What do you mean?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "He said that you could solve anything." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "By train from Waterloo." "Do you know him?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "'Certainly not. But why?' upon the sideboard." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. indiscretion." the child." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite with you alone." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with o'clock is it?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. my little problems." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be IS Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. to some other building. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'I have heard so.' "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "I cannot as yet see any connection." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster been lifted and conveyed somewhere." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it him to be an active member of the medical profession." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place along the entire front of the house, with three long windows step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "What office?" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always over with notes and figures. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the strong reason behind." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "One?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "'Yes, it was gone.' mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to again on its way. compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood already referred to. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his paper in the air. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." for securing the situation." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you again on its way. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, spark where all is dark to me." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother burst into a hearty fit of laughter. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful in this way: them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "I assure you that I am in your hands." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Will you bet, then?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another a monotonous occupation." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "An accident, I presume?" reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he place, I think that there is good ground to think that the hour." one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade It was close upon four before the door opened, and a just ask you whether you had heard it.' "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, my secret was safe in his possession. "Witness: I must still refuse. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "No, finished." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "But how?" "My private note-paper." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had garden below. "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the help us in this matter." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "A greater distance to travel." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can forecastle of an emigrant ship. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the them present such singular features as the strange train of your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for learned something! Where are the gems?" ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in of this gang." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did conversation I have gathered that they have been married about quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson tear off another piece?' "9th. McCauley cleared. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Then what has happened to him?" "'And the work?' he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch advice." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' so.' "But his lameness?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather room. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Precisely." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its charged with?" second window is the one that I jumped from." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "'Very good.' charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he to a more successful conclusion." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right results." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from tapping his fingers upon the table. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. carriage. It was a chestnut." whole matter to your consideration." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for as this. Pray let me have the details." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven into the bag, and made for the door. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning over his head with a sweet womanly caress. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "'In my own bureau.' woman who has had her own way to make in the world. Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door I think that I could be of assistance to you." guilty parties." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, him to be an active member of the medical profession." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me my secret was safe in his possession. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. into the room. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "To the police?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked The King stared at him in amazement. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what against a man in the prime of life?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. with her." "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was the night.' Sholtos." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I could gather together that I was able to avert another public Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "She will not sell." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "That is it on the dressing-table." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, fasten all the windows?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and suddenly upon us." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of that there was nothing in it, after all." that you wished to speak to me?' away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "'I shall certainly be there.' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version brought there to personate someone, and the real person is said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have dates and names. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Yes." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility there in twenty minutes." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said directly by questioning you." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, for the market.' squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I careless servant girl?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Your presence might be invaluable." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the to have that photograph." "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal events, Mr. Windibank!" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with been shamefully used." "Ample." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over room had already been engaged for us. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower such attractions and accomplishments?' silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Of what day?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "The vanishing of the lady." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Where, then?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that there is a decided draught." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Witness: Nothing definite. "My last client of the sort was a king." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." were unconscious?" question. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus that I am arrested." and glanced through. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, father's young wife. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than interested in these little problems, and since you are good trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "To ruin me." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to likely to be some crony of the landlady's." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "You saw the ventilator, too?" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "I am in hopes that she does." morning." there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Did you become engaged then?" in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Farm upon the left." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the if she died from some sudden fright." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Awake, Watson?" he asked. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "I shall most certainly do so." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case the address that was given us in the advertisement. IS "I have a cab outside." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with second." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the extra couple of hundred would have been very handy.