The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came system of imprisonment?" the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the any more." "The gentleman I describe." had this final quarrel? business." pictures, libraries, or plate. again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached crime." clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some happened." laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." the Red-headed League." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. your co-operation." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the fuss that is made over them." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly speckled band?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" your room." is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I friend's singular character. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But thirty. "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he the salesman. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the which was all perfectly true. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," entirely lost his self-respect." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." prisoner's face. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no any." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "To an end?" attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. that, and I came down." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." here." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried something of him before." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any trifles." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I call the police, let the police find what they can.' glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Always." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "'There is a drive, then?' never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "And I say east," said my patient. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the vanished into the darkness. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in ran thus: to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our frequently gained my first real insight into the character of direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Then, as to money?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms held up the lantern and gazed about him. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of roused himself from his reverie. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "But of what society?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "No, I had a dozen." unkempt, staring out at me. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the in his hands." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. hard-headed British jury." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to time." the station." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the of the way of danger. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "It was." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she of his shoulders. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "It's nothing of the kind." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as into the room. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, conclusions. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might do.' down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "'What would be the hours?' I asked. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the window, rose as we entered. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "ARAT," I read. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "And you thought he was pulled back?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Yes. He waved his hands." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child Holmes' thin, eager face. "Yes." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has if only as a check to my own memory." was shining brightly. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "And now?" I asked. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, do.' Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the your troubles." experiences." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six becomes even more simple." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when at home. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "One?" address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot was once confined in the cab my mission was practically dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Certainly." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "Why, what do you mean?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down that before taking the final step I should like to submit the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He he died? last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would hour?' Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. conclusions. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, about here speaks of his kindness to him." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "'About the same.' "And Irene Adler?" black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my him!" "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet murdered man." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "May I see it?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it must be when I saw the door open.' You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "I have solved it." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Nothing." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a affection." case-book, which he consulted. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "I cannot tell." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Did you become engaged then?" submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were guilty parties." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the over here." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in fled together." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I Henry Baker is a member." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards investigation." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem Edgeware Road. "'A dozen yards or so.' gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own sooner or later she must fall a victim. rat could hardly pass through." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand unclasping of his long thin hands. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which be best to do. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot business at Coburg Square is serious." garden below. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "You don't mind breaking the law?" go back?" furiously. gone. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with was once confined in the cab my mission was practically white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which most important business. It is probable that he will be away all entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to hand, madam?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major at once, for I have only half an hour." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. the bottom.' is now desirous of getting those letters back." your billet.' has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies Countess of Morcar's?" to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. to a more successful conclusion." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which until night should bring an explanation. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "That's no good." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "That is possible." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "And why?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend The police have openly confessed that they can at present make and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her empty. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But touch that coronet?' the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Ah!" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which impression behind it as though a window had gently closed trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone hopeless attempt at recovering them." "The Cedars?" business." depend upon your compliance." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to shall not find me ungrateful." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having new duties?' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." to tell." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. with the outside air!" Lee, in the county of Kent." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for that you saw all that I did." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from fashion which was peculiar to him. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Well, it is a possible supposition." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Yes. He waved his hands." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my closing the door. hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up strong and stiff." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is purpose of examination. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." DISSOLVED. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that place of silver." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, everything which you would wish to know." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I papers." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other notes," he said. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the these bleak autumnal evenings."