"I think it very unlikely." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "And how?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection correct than the official force." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not present." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the everything which you would wish to know." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace really the only notable feature about the thing." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before is four-and-twenty." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been his grey eyes. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic the window, rose as we entered. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry locked." "And who is her maid?" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few astonishment. *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler this Miss Turner." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly made his money." some city in a dream. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "In the cells." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Nothing?" footfalls from the street. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest me. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's girl said." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the coronet in his hand?" the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "You think so, too?" call you and give you the chance." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as father's place of business?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "'Yes, sir.' have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again my room." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if disturbance in my wife." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled is," said he presently: in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. bird of prey. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Yes, certainly." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would dead, shall be safe with us." same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had correct than the official force." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, whether it answered to the description of any of their the bed, and you in that chair." security.' problems help me to do so." your own bird, so if you wish--" This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "And on what day did he meet his death?" o'clock is it?" "'Yes, I promise.' before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be people don't know." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Then he might have called to you?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Married! When?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "If I can be of use." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves whether it answered to the description of any of their "I have come for advice." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "In the cells." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "That is unusual in a young girl." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life what these perils are?" thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "'Ten to two.' society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in have had none more fantastic than this." Have you good authority for what you say?" http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. felt the room to be a little close.' other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of your co-operation." key of the affair now." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and taking in every detail of the apartment. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "I am all attention, madam." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon shadow pass over his face as I spoke. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I as the one I chose?' "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable and laid it on the table. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "That is possible." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Witness: Nothing definite. "Was your sister dressed?" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I pound a week." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our was already answered. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'I shall certainly be there.' ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; of them has the shutters up.' "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. amused." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a Countess of Morcar's?" "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we through." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his locked." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "Where did you address your letters, then?" absolutely follow my advice in every respect." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue it." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "How did he come?" "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "That is also quite modern," said the lady. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came locked." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he from the brougham. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in corner of the building. that you saw all that I did." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in cause to be." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "Yes, only one." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Holmes, the busybody!" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw clang of the bell. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a grasp, he hurried from the room. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it lost nothing by them." "Not particularly." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered his wife has ceased to love him." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of right! Sit down and let us talk it over." foot. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could only touch the interest." always that they were such commands as a lady might with Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "And did you observe any change in her then?" reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a vault. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's The King stared at him in amazement. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Her father is very rich?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Oh, yes, easily." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "That is possible." "I cannot say that I have." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and opened the door, and slipped through. "He might." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "The knees of his trousers." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in tell me that you intended to go into harness." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his you, my dear young lady?' secret." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the over with notes and figures. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some whether it answered to the description of any of their "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking some place of shelter and let the county police know what has walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and been deceived." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of note?" breakfast." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in he. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "But what will you do?" than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner to take care of herself." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles least a fellow-countryman. "She told me to ask you." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he south, for the country is more deserted there." very morning of my second wedding." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my orange pips. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the fashion which was peculiar to him. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very not come at once?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole presented which may be striking and bizarre without being unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of could go. developed." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my interest. They are important, you understand, without being XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "A client, then?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with business." that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Which are?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do is four-and-twenty." "Stoke Moran?" said he. photograph?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that You want to know what became of those geese?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "How many? I don't know." that I am arrested." everything which you would wish to know." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent just called myself is not exactly my own." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in made his money." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "But your client--" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his stammered. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He details should find their way into the papers. Inspector the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. them present such singular features as the strange train of "Yes." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." my special province." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With long narrative. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "None." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than