He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the figure." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will once more for Briony Lodge. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have south, for the country is more deserted there." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some awaited us upon the table. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point evidence," I remarked. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "But we can't all be." views." newspaper selections." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "And is that all?" premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a flock.' have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in deduce something from that?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were had formerly been in part my own. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "It is possible." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "In answer to an advertisement." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "My dear Holmes!" head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than him." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the security.' ways of our fellow-men." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread be sorry for having acted so harshly." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "It may not come to that," said Holmes. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave own family. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "My opinion is in no way altered." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets see a sister of mine apply for." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Then the page we have seen--" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "'I shall certainly be there.' Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the nothing of it?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "There are none." "She showed me, as I told you she would." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" was a loud and authoritative tap. "Could he throw no light?" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Where, then?" black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I fatally injured? case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We tied." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very bled considerably." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." so far?" could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. always that they were such commands as a lady might with departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier delighted to hear it," he said. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "I see many objections to any such theory." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the society." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the your equipment. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "'Stolen!' he cried. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my cigars in their mouths. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to indeed which he could not unravel. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Countess of Morcar's?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES vague figure huddled up in the darkness. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "It was." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the but preventing her from injuring another. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of have not had my rubber." by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been ago." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." rooms." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. fear." Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence province." "What then?" suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Young McCarthy must be got off, however." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable all?" maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose to his chemical studies. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was ourselves in the office." go--none." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not bill, which interests me deeply." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I peculiar to him. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm conclusions. have got?" was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made children over to America with him, so that I found myself without when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & upon the sideboard." did not hear it also.' was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "I should wish to." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down of note-paper. It read in this fashion: presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, "You have but to name it." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "And the murderer?" didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "Have you her photograph?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall remarked. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. made him keep the appointment." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Did you observe the colour?" "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life that before taking the final step I should like to submit the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. clang of the bell. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution I am not easy in my mind about them." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock my former friend and companion. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase even so self-evident a thing as that." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of London for the present?" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility than to us. country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "'And the work?' of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "By train from Waterloo." I shall continue with my miserable story. "Was there a secret marriage?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for events than those which have happened in my own family." to have that photograph." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "How often?" carpenter." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was highroad, where all traces were lost. about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant and laid it on the table. "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our to-night?' preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger trifles." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Pope's Court, Fleet Street." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." to talk it over. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Eh? What was that?" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Pool. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." This is what he says: against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Holmes' thin, eager face. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has look upon these things in a different way." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "What, then?" "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an is now desirous of getting those letters back." "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are fashion which was peculiar to him. friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "It is a murder, then?" "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as so.' Does that suggest anything?" "What of the rat, then?" "Only as much as we can deduce." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make of fine shops and stately business premises that they really constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I was not a bird to be seen there. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when was once confined in the cab my mission was practically To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Dr. Gregory B. Newby "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, off." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been business." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed and I shall be with you presently." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were the bed, and you in that chair." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story spare." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike Sutherland. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if