No. 9 The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb by Arthur Conan Doyle
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the adventure of_the engineer's thumb

no .9 from_the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

by Arthur Conan Doyle

of all the problems which_have been submitted to my friend, Mr Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of_our intimacy, there were only two which I was_the means of introducing to_his notice-- that of Mr Hatherley's thumb, and_that of colonel Warburton's madness . of_these the latter may_have afforded a finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that_it may_be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if_it gave my friend fewer openings for_those deductive methods of reasoning by_which he achieved such remarkable results . the story has, I believe, been told more than once in_the newspapers, but, like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when set forth en bloc in a single half- column of print than when_the facts slowly evolve before_your own eyes, and_the mystery clears gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads on to_the complete truth . at_the_time the circumstances made a deep impression upon me, and_the lapse of two years has hardly served to weaken the effect .

it_was in_the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that_the events occurred which I_am now about to summarise .I had returned to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in_his baker street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so_far as to_come and visit us . my practice had steadily increased, and as I happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington station, I got a few patients from among_the officials . one_of_these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send me on every sufferer over whom he_might_have any influence .

one morning, at a little before seven o'clock, i_was awakened by_the maid tapping at_the door to announce that two men had come from Paddington and were waiting in_the consulting- room .I dressed hurriedly, for I_knew by experience that railway cases were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs . as I descended, my old ally, the guard, came out_of_the room and closed the door tightly behind him .

"I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his shoulder; " he's all right ."

" what_is it, then ? " I asked, for_his manner suggested that_it_was some strange creature which he had caged up in my room .

" it's a new patient," he whispered ." i_thought I'd bring him round myself; then he couldn't slip away . there he_is, all safe and sound . I_must go now, doctor; I_have my dooties, just the same as_you ." and off he went, this trusty tout, without even giving me time to thank him .

I entered my consulting- room and found a gentleman seated by_the table . he_was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books . round one of_his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which_was mottled all over with bloodstains . he_was young, not more than five- and-twenty, i_should say, with a strong, masculine face; but he_was exceedingly pale and gave_me the impression of a man who was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his strength of mind to control .

" I_am sorry to knock you up so early, doctor," said he, " but I_have_had a very serious accident during the night . I_came in by train this_morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as_to where I_might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me here . I_gave the maid a card, but I_see that she has left it upon_the side- table ."

i_took it up and glanced at it ." Mr victor Hatherley, hydraulic engineer, 16A . Victoria street (3d floor) ." that was_the name, style, and abode of_my morning visitor ." I_regret that I_have kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library- chair ." you_are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which_is in itself a monotonous occupation ."

"Oh, my night could_not_be called monotonous," said he, and laughed . he laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, leaning back in_his chair and shaking his sides . all my medical instincts rose up against that laugh .

" stop it ! " I cried; " pull yourself together ! " and I poured out some water from acaraffe .

it_was useless, however . he_was off in one of_those hysterical outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis is over and gone . presently he_came to himself once more, very weary and pale- looking .

" I_have_been making a fool of myself," he gasped .

" not at all . drink this ." I dashed some brandy into_the water, and_the colour began to_come back to_his bloodless cheeks .

" that's better ! " said he ." and now, doctor, perhaps you_would kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to_the place where my thumb used to_be ."

he unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand . it gave even my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it . there were four protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the thumb should_have_been . it had_been hacked or torn right out from_the roots .

" good heavens ! " I cried, " this_is a terrible injury . it must_have bled considerably ."

" yes, it did .I fainted when it was_done, and i_think that I_must_have been senseless for_a_long_time . when I_came to I_found that_it_was still bleeding, so I tied one end of_my handkerchief very tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig ."

" excellent ! you should_have_been a surgeon ."

" it_is a question of hydraulics, you_see, and came within my own province ."

" this has_been_done," said I, examining the wound, " by a very heavy and sharp instrument ."

"A thing like a cleaver," said he .

" an accident, I presume ? "

" by no means ."

" what ! a murderous attack ? "

" very murderous indeed ."

" you horrify me ."

I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages . he lay back without wincing, though he bit his lip from_time to_time .

" how is_that ? " I asked when I had finished .

" capital ! between your brandy and your bandage, I_feel a new man . i_was very weak, but I_have_had a good_deal to_go through ."

" perhaps you had better not speak of_the matter . it_is evidently trying to your nerves ."

"Oh, no, not now . I_shall_have to_tell my tale to_the police; but, between ourselves, if_it were_not for_the convincing evidence of_this wound of_mine, i_should_be surprised if_they believed my statement, for_it is a very extraordinary one, and I_have_not much in_the way of proof with_which to back it up; and, even if_they believe me, the clews which I_can give them are so vague that_it_is a question whether justice will_be_done ."

"Ha ! " cried I, " if_it_is anything in_the nature of a problem which you_desire to_see solved, i_should strongly recommend you to_come to my friend, Mr Sherlock Holmes, before_you go to_the official police ."

"Oh, I_have heard of_that fellow," answered my visitor, " and i_should_be very_glad if he_would take_the matter up, though of_course I_must use the official police as_well . would you give_me an introduction to him ? "

"I'll do better .I'll take you round to him myself ."

" i_should_be immensely obliged to_you ."

" we'll call a cab and go together . we_shall just be in_time to_have a little breakfast with_him . do_you feel equal to_it ? "

" yes; I_shall_not feel easy until I_have told my story ."

" then my servant will call a cab, and I_shall_be with_you in an instant ." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my new acquaintance to baker street .

Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his sitting room in_his dressing- gown, reading the agony column of_the Times and smoking his before- breakfast pipe, which_was composed of all the plugs and dottles left from_his smokes of_the day before, all carefully dried and collected on_the corner of_the mantelpiece . he received us in_his quietly genial fashion, ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal . when it_was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon_the sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of brandy and water within his reach .

" it_is easy to_see that your experience has_been no common one, Mr Hatherley," said he ." pray, lie down there and make yourself absolutely at home . tell us what you_can, but stop when_you_are tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant ."

" thank_you," said my patient ." but I_have felt another man since_the doctor bandaged me, and i_think that your breakfast has completed the cure . I_shall take up as little of your valuable time as possible, so I_shall start at once upon my peculiar experiences ."

Holmes sat in_his big armchair with_the weary, heavy-lidded expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat opposite to him, and we listened in silence to_the strange story which our visitor detailed to_us .

" you_must know," said he, " that I_am an orphan and a bachelor, residing alone in lodgings in London . by profession I_am a hydraulic engineer, and I_have_had considerable experience of_my work during the seven years that i_was apprenticed to Venner & Matheson, the well- known firm, of Greenwich . two years_ago, having served my_time, and having also come into a fair sum of money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in business for_myself and took professional chambers in Victoria street .

"I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in business a dreary experience . to_me it_has_been exceptionally so . during two years I_have_had three consultations and one small job, and_that is absolutely all that my profession has brought me . my gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s . every day, from nine in_the morning until four in_the afternoon, I waited in my little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I_came to_believe that i_should never have any practice at all .

" yesterday, however, just as i_was thinking of leaving the office, my clerk entered to_say there_was a gentleman waiting who wished to_see me upon business . he brought up a card, too, with_the name of ' colonel Lysander stark' engraved upon it . close at his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle size, but of an exceeding thinness . I_do_not_think that I_have ever seen so thin a man . his whole face sharpened away into nose and chin, and_the skin of_his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his outstanding bones . yet this emaciation seemed to_be his natural habit, and due to no disease, for_his eye was bright, his step brisk, and_his bearing assured . he_was plainly but neatly dressed, and_his age, i_should judge, would_be nearer forty than thirty .

"' Mr Hatherley ? ' said he, with something of a German accent .' you_have_been recommended to_me, Mr Hatherley, as being a man who_is_not only proficient in_his profession but is also discreet and capable of preserving a secret .'

"I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an address .' may I ask who it_was who gave_me so good a character ? '

"' well, perhaps it_is better that I should_not tell you that just at_this moment . I_have it from_the same source that you_are both an orphan and a bachelor and_are residing alone in London .'

"' that_is quite correct,' I answered; ' but you_will excuse me if I_say that I cannot_see how all this bears upon my professional qualifications .I understand that_it_was on a professional matter that you wished to_speak to_me ? '

"' undoubtedly so . but you_will_find that all I_say is really to_the point . I_have a professional commission for_you, but absolute secrecy is quite essential-- absolute secrecy, you understand, and of_course we_may expect that more from a man who_is alone than from one who lives in_the bosom of_his family .'

"' if I promise to_keep a secret,' said I, ' you_may absolutely depend upon my doing_so .'

" he looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to_me that I had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye .

"' do_you promise, then ? ' said he at last .

"' yes, I promise .'

"' absolute and complete silence before, during, and after ? no reference to_the matter at all, either in word or writing ? '

"' I_have already given you my word .'

"' very_good .' he suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning across the room he flung open the door . the passage outside was empty .

"' that's all right,' said he, coming back .' I_know the clerks are sometimes curious as to_their master's affairs . now we_can talk in safety .' he drew up his chair very close to mine and began to stare at me again with_the same questioning and thoughtful look .

"A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun to rise within me at_the strange antics of_this fleshless man . even my dread of losing a client could_not restrain me from showing my impatience .

"'I beg that you_will state your business, sir,' said I; ' my_time is of value .' heaven forgive me for_that last sentence, but the words came to my lips .

"' how would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you ? ' he asked .

"' most admirably .'

"' I_say a night's work, but an hour's would_be nearer the mark .I simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which_has got out of gear . if_you show us what_is wrong we_shall soon set it right ourselves . what do_you_think of_such a commission as_that ? '

"' the work appears to_be light and_the pay munificent .'

"' precisely so . we_shall want you to_come to- night by_the last train .'

"' where to ? '

"' to Eyford, in Berkshire . it_is a little place near the borders of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading . there_is a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about 11:15 .'

"' very_good .'

"' I_shall come down in a carriage to meet you .'

"' there_is a drive, then ? '

"' yes, our little place is quite out in_the country . it_is a good seven miles from Eyford station .'

"' then we_can hardly get there before midnight .I suppose there would_be no chance of a train back . i_should_be compelled to stop the night .'

"' yes, we_could easily give_you a shake- down .'

"' that_is very awkward . could I not come at some more convenient hour ? '

"' we_have judged it best that you_should come late . it_is to recompense you for any inconvenience that we_are paying to_you, a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from_the very heads of your profession . still, of_course, if_you_would like to draw out_of_the business, there_is plenty of_time to_do_so .'

" i_thought of_the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they_would_be to_me .' not at all,' said I, ' I_shall_be very happy to accommodate myself to your wishes . i_should like, however, to understand a little more clearly what it is_that you wish me to_do .'

"' quite so . it_is very natural that_the pledge of secrecy which we_have exacted from you_should_have aroused your curiosity . I_have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all laid before_you .I suppose that we_are absolutely safe from eavesdroppers ? '

"' entirely .'

"' then the matter stands thus . you_are probably aware that fuller's- earth is a valuable product, and

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