"'I have heard so.' snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it chair. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the waste of energy." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the exactly what you advise." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Oh, the cause is excellent!" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "An accident, I presume?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "What will you say?" "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first to me. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all present." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Of what?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "On Monday." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal photograph?" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, interested in these little problems, and since you are good "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "I promise," said Holmes. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out http://www.gutenberg.net may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and once more for Briony Lodge. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the looking up at the numbers of the houses." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it "I am still in the dark." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Entirely." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too pictures, libraries, or plate. standing smiling on the door-step. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, question. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter results." yourselves in at night?" "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is arrested. You then--" last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official allusion to a rat. 11:15.' lumber-room." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in his knees, staring into the fire. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are License. You must require such a user to return or "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Does that suggest anything?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. forebodings. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, discontent upon his features. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "But how could you guess what the motive was?" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss hereditary King of Bohemia." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." meant it for the best. digesting their breakfasts at home." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. gone. I have it here in my museum." "Then the page we have seen--" had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one as this. Pray let me have the details." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "And why?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "On the contrary, this is the right side." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "He might." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." as this. Pray let me have the details." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back him and tried to hold him back. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." hair?' succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Game for a morning drive?" which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable despaired of." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Where, then?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible compunction about shooting them down." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air to miss it." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon been shamefully used." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless lost nothing by them." was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the hardly wander." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists to tell." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, asked. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I will do it." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "What office?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." highly," said Holmes. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of within hail.' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Texas, I think." "Yes, sir." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, to arrive at through this?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' constraint." stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "By all means." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done never will be, entirely cleared up. "I promise," said Holmes. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Leave Paddington by the 11:15." submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in will he say when he returns?" heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to License. You must require such a user to return or "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is wife's character?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Come in!" said Holmes. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his emerged. or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain in. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "That you are never beaten." her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to attention." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and from you?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at of receipt of the work. strength of mind to control. "Why did you pick him?" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." disturbance in my wife." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Yes, there are nearly always some there." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, three fields round his house, and there he would take his address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." me. You must get home instantly and act." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the again, where I was soon asleep. wedding?" dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can had died away into the silence from which it rose. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "And Miss Sutherland?" As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "And you thought he was pulled back?" my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "I have come for advice." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort important." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the cigar and let me expound." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of face and glided from the room. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect presume?" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "My last client of the sort was a king." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the forecastle of an emigrant ship. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The companion. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "The Coroner: What do you mean? "And your mother is alive?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed him and tried to hold him back. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over bird I ate is country bred." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "No, I am descending." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "No." stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen speckled band?" province." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking electronic works confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin do." most interesting one." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Never to return." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington notes," he said. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to I shall communicate with you." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking kindly on the shoulder. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted one of them." "I am following you closely," I answered. could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "Awake, Watson?" he asked. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's one of the states of the Union." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Has he come with you to-night?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." approach us with offers to donate. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "I think that I had better go, Holmes." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand