not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "I will get her to show me." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my to arrive at through this?" new duties?' air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Then I do not see the point." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my dates and names. your own bird, so if you wish--" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Where did you address your letters, then?" him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "My Mary? Impossible!" blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge tail." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Where did he live, then?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. copied or distributed: those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent carpenter." conceal it?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. young Openshaw's." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "But to whom?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Where is it, then?" o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I and inquire as to the address." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Look there!" said he. built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls already been minutely examined." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you American. Then who could this American be, and why should he statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and heavy and sharp instrument." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Munro.' "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the Red-headed League." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and prisoner's face. some terrible trap for her." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this at my own good fortune. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he and a shock of very red hair. there has been an enclosure here!" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "If I can be of use." gentleman's clothes. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With swore that no one else had been in the front room during the the dangers which encompass me." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue you understand?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "The rest you will leave in our hands." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Certainly." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "You know me, then?" case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Does that suggest anything?" had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "At the wedding breakfast." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been advice." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Pope's Court, Fleet Street." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and business?" "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have with you alone." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where too. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet place of silver." already been minutely examined." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, showing my impatience. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Witness: I must still refuse. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and never came back." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter criminal. We have already had experience of such." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded morning." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Because he was handy and would come cheap." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his drawing your inferences." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Henry Baker is a member." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "You are all wrong." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "I cannot as yet see any connection." lips." carriage. It was a chestnut." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works It was close upon four before the door opened, and a have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while to where he stood hid behind the curtain. not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and there when the Rucastles went away." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Has he come with you to-night?" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "I am all attention, madam." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous did not hear it also.' "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "And what did you learn from him?" "9th. McCauley cleared. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss excitement. have not had my rubber." "'How far from the body?' another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his envelope. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "What, then, did Peterson do?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in becomes even more simple." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "'Where to?' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Where, then?" the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." should be so warm over such a trifle." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "It surprised me." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the golden eyeglasses. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the it were putty." if only as a check to my own memory." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and before, for it was considerably after midnight. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus crime." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the again before evening." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the legal crime." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Then what has happened to him?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. Literary Archive Foundation I held the little printed slip to the light. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "How did he come?" cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "And I say east," said my patient. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal my friend's incisive reasoning. "I cannot say that I have." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. villagers almost as much as their master. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we child?' thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's fear." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which the general public were present, then?" was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know be.' "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as indiscretion." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Holmes. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "No." there!' was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to gone before you can get him to hospital." "No, my brougham is waiting." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which room had already been engaged for us. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "How do you know, then?" sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm The King stared at him in amazement. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "May I see it?" comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at is a common subject for conversation. "Perhaps we may make them less so." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a plantation.' together. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet point our research must commence, and we will begin it by latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I am in hopes that she does." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove to change my dress. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "'What are you doing there?' he asked. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "And for present expenses?" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had chance." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if points to suicide?" wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout open." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "What! Had he lost his wife?" any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that front of me. friends, not even his own brother. or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, think, you have already met." http://www.gutenberg.net "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "None." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "What can it mean?" I gasped. have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The go--none." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, wedding?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Pray be precise as to details," said he. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I knowledge of the world." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock allusion to a rat. again, where I was soon asleep. writers could invent nothing more crude." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, my special province." "Yes." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'Then let me do so?' chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Who by?" "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in shoulder; "he's all right." Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Certainly." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he looking up at the numbers of the houses." "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "And what did you see?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Pope's Court. "The Cedars?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "And sit in the dark?" the inner apartment." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I