after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his letters?" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the this unhappy family?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who point our research must commence, and we will begin it by of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Can I be of assistance?" colour had been driven from his face. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "'What, the red-headed man?' said he. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence deduce something from that?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are have not had my rubber." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right humiliation." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the few hundred pounds.' uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my and prosperity to your house. Good-night." definite end. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "How often?" directors have had misgivings upon the subject." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "So I heard. You have him here?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps dates and names. all that?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, II. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "And what then?" never to learn it at all." confronted him. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" it were putty." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so begun to whiten, even as mine has." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets are windows in it, of course?" been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Here?" Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "You saw the ventilator, too?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though pressing in one house as in another. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security said Mr. Holder. "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "But your client--" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had written, and locked the door of the office after me. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home when you have done it." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "I say it is." "Holmes, the busybody!" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case it were putty." fat-encircled eyes. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" corner of the building. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My questionable one." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new straighten it?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and sooner or later she must fall a victim. gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly easy-going way." found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an is now desirous of getting those letters back." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. of the vacancies.' throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He feature." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Never." "But I am all in the dark." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "I came to find a friend." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "In answer to an advertisement." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms waste of energy." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "What can you not understand?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, pound a week." "What shall I do?" "Did you observe the colour?" everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Won't it ring?" compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I placed his cuttings. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "'Stolen!' he cried. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not fait accompli?" "It is true that I have been generally successful." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "No, distinctly professional." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them any more." "And how have you succeeded?" "What then?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the said I. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved name is different." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "It is possible." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "I cannot as yet see any connection." you." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "No. What a strange idea!" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of outside. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, said Mr. Holder. "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing ran thus: over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Frequently." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Precisely." galvanised. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Look there!" said he. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "I say that I have solved it." what these perils are?" difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing villagers almost as much as their master. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was she used." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still was already answered. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds the matter." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for and files of the old papers, following the future career of every friends, not even his own brother. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in bled considerably." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well papers must be those that are destroyed.' which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do better in every way that they should make their position a little Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue bachelor.' a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was fait accompli?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Dr. Becher's." Holmes' room. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "In which, sir?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." do you make of it all?" before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "It is no ordinary one." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no key turn in the lock." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets introspective fashion. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to instincts rose up against that laugh. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as reach." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. too. one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed of it with the greatest attention. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "It is possible." "Yes, he did." more terrible than the truth. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and a suggestive one." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "But of what society?" the salesman. "And on what day did he meet his death?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution views." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Very murderous indeed." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now stepfather?" "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His tell him that I know him to be innocent." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "That is possible." "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it your billet.' "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions the King without delay." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "'Very good.' hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just States. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my you in your example." receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy hurried by. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular and inquire as to the address." bare slabs of marble. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his into her hand at the door and which lured her within their set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "None." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." placed his cuttings. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a quick march!" refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the dangers which encompass me." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he wanted for ourselves." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. that he has suffered." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. gigantic client. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "No. What a strange idea!" "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, works. See paragraph 1.E below. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love down in his armchair and closing his eyes. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." appointment with me for six o'clock?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I status with the IRS. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause peculiar to him. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, chill to my heart. "He said too much." wedding?" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of whole matter to your consideration." you." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his prison!" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "Could he throw no light?" with her." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. footfalls from the street. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew matter over." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. the ceiling. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court bled considerably." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "And help." since then to throw any light upon what became of him."