cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the bled considerably." "Witness: I must still refuse. "9th. McCauley cleared. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their your room." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "You horrify me!" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can manager. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very to a more successful conclusion." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "And how did he make his money?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the the running down." something of him before." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes one else, I think." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." will he say when he returns?" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you speckled band?" provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt secret." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as late!' singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Chief Executive and Director back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. a monotonous occupation." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge that you can jump it.' the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a already referred to. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." bird I ate is country bred." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of if only as a check to my own memory." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. nothing of it?" 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all done what I asked you, Jones?" danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens train.' certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "But how?" gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a bachelor.' his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the warnings." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a the very letters. But what is this written above them?' locked. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign will take you up to see the machine.' "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest without a word or a look. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, sufficient punishment." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than disappearance of these gems?" salesman. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the arrested. You then--" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my question," said Holmes, smiling. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry upon the shelf for the interim." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, purpose of examination. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." your billet.' Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. envelope. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of may have an influence upon European history." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "My stepfather's business papers." "Never to return." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem out of this horrible affair." his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your think that he is innocent?" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin guilty parties." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot himself to tell his story. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Clair, of Lee." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. there when the Rucastles went away." purpose equally well?" hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air the driver. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "A client, then?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and least a fellow-countryman. "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "And when will you call?" a good hundred miles off by now." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and she has been waylaid. There has been no result." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "What?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his me upon any point which I do not make clear." "It surprised me." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "How did you trace it, then?" them?" "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air gentleman's clothes. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "I fear not." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "What?" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "But what harm can there be in that?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, promised to bring home. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "The rest you will leave in our hands." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and the running down." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural business at Coburg Square is serious." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "You saw the ventilator, too?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, to that open window." preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a II. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the little opening for the ventilator is." "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could London for the present?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the bed, and you in that chair." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, speckled band?" Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Oh, the cause is excellent!" I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "Where is it, then?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in as he folded up the epistle. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." has little to do with my story." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was opened the door, and slipped through. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "The landlord of the Alpha." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "It may not come to that," said Holmes. where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "Yes, at the mines." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "No." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the girl said." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but and have this put in the evening papers." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Street. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "My private note-paper." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "Nothing." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. Holmes." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at must be when I saw the door open.' lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to From what you have told me I think that it is possible that help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "And is that all?" I am not easy in my mind about them." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual never came back." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever fasten all the windows?" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "You'll never persuade me to believe that." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is there were one or two details which were new to me. But the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback you?' suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked criminal. We have already had experience of such." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis relief. could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your License. You must require such a user to return or "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while in the hope of finding them." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, For additional contact information: between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "The best possible." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away you understand?" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope this poor creature." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "On the contrary, this is the right side." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "He said too much." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an gentleman's clothes. really the only notable feature about the thing." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "'What would be the hours?' I asked. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the gone before you can get him to hospital." of your young ladies.'