you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Then, how do you know?" "It was." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, only touch the interest." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at see a sister of mine apply for." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still success. cigars in their mouths. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom matter." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "'Yes, sir.' "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed IS electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to way: cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should distinguish the words: stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the of the way of danger. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "On your arm?" Holmes' thin, eager face. the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old were wasted." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent place no limit on the sum I may draw." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three on re-entering her father's house?" the child." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. look upon these things in a different way." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the note?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the you." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be I approached. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Certainly." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about said he. electronic works separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "A call for help, you thought?" mystery." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is should be taken.' important." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "I was afraid that you were engaged." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "What! Had he lost his wife?" broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Nothing." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to the south-west, I see." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not late!' "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "And how did you verify them?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "And on what day did he meet his death?" building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "One?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "BALLARAT." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I see many objections to any such theory." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Frequently." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my indeed happy." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, me where it went to?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and walking." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not hour." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" and the whole place is in a blaze." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we fait accompli?" began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea to his chemical studies. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of said he at last. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, is," said he presently: deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my way: news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers here." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and wife's character?" As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, strength." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as very old mansion. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to triumphant cloud from his cigarette. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of lamp. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "'Ample.' to Leatherhead. would then never go into court at all." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "The Coroner: What do you mean? them, and came down just as you departed. mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "Yes." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, crowd. the address that was given us in the advertisement. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "On your arm?" "Yes." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that respectable self." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." goes." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was which was all perfectly true. "Did your wife hear all this?" Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Did he not advertise?" "Which are?" breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, persecution?" hour." Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. been deceived." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be good for you to do.' "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to redistribution. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the foot. "You have carte blanche." it." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." tell them apart.' that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are you found me to-night--and running through the front room she it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with any little problem which you may submit to me." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead cost them two and thirty pounds." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Get out!" said he. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Sholtos." moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a 'please.'" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and down. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "I assure you that I am in your hands." "But I am all in the dark." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "No good news?" hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we residence of the great financier. coat-tails." "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Have you her photograph?" once more on the important position which you have been fortunate XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "Quite so." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and other means.' once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and about here speaks of his kindness to him." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "VIOLET HUNTER." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "What! You do not mean bodies?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 stammered. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "The doctor?" "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, maiden herself was most instructive." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for and the colonel ushered me in. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where Holmes rather sternly. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, in one or two places in England?' while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Do you know him?" upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Have you her photograph?" your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it it? Did I buy the geese off you?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Never." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." advice." details." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "And how did he make his money?" might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Stoke Moran." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled Sutherland. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Do you receive much company?" he asked. and the colonel ushered me in. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had in a very precise fashion." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a fasten all the windows?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I system of imprisonment?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "She told me to ask you." the window, rose as we entered. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "I am armed." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Not particularly." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who my secret was safe in his possession. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Certainly, madam." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to the matter." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg the bottom.' "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "It is possible." who was a member of your goose club." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we helping a boy to put up the shutters. quick march!" security.' fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "I should like to see him very much." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "And it is--"