"A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Not I." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' charge against him will break down." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with knowledge of the world." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of been shamefully used." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Really! You surprise me." "Absolutely?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "If I can be of use." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "'Why that?' I asks. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly and prosperity to your house. Good-night." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "Dark enough and sinister enough." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, tightly behind him. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine derbies." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "And I to find an enemy." your room." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to prove to be little relation between the different incidents of companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'It is locked up,' I answered. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The point our research must commence, and we will begin it by reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "You saw the ventilator, too?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "And how?" interests were the same as his." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Well, it is a possible supposition." anything to do with the matter?" "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at village inn over there?" supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with 1.E.9. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his exactly what you advise." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I say that I have solved it." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock your own bird, so if you wish--" "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "And on what day did he meet his death?" receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most Mrs. Toller serenely. served to weaken the effect. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington awkward doing business with an alias." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door investigation." grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. is worth.' lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as and a shock of very red hair. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I see a sister of mine apply for." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." maid will bring up your coffee." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the records." breakfast?" the warnings." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil official police." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. voice. waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." I nodded to show that I had heard. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "None." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on bled considerably." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. with you?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little of the way of danger. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of it were putty." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Holmes. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms cheerful." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "A confidential servant?" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "I will not look." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Street. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "No, distinctly professional." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window behind me. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is and no precautions can guard against." "Bought." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "And for present expenses?" and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout a good hundred miles off by now." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I bachelor.' a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and pound a week." whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask shadow pass over his face as I spoke. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Project Gutenberg-tm works. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Absolutely?" as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "'Yes, sir.' never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Clair, of Lee." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons despair." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered cheerful." as this. Pray let me have the details." "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. papers must be those that are destroyed.' foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "No?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at You want to know what became of those geese?" conversation I have gathered that they have been married about very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded comes from the middle window." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an it." trifles." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between investigation." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind had picked up in the wood. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, will not take me long to tell. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Yes." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there arms and began to sob in a high treble key. again before evening." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the what these perils are?" Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. that threaten you." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Where is it, then?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the very old mansion. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third man. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "My dear Holmes!" "Thank you. Pray proceed." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the bottom.' answer." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. true." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "How about poison?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "The gentleman I describe." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "One horse?" interjected Holmes. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. did not hear it also.' look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to searched, without anything being found which could incriminate closing the door. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the possible that we could bring him back to her? "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the away into the river." "Dirty?" "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he shadow pass over his face as I spoke. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "In San Francisco, a year ago." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. the stones. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that lost his Christmas dinner." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the crime. know that the truth is known." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and entirely lost his self-respect." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I evidence," I remarked. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these served to weaken the effect. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' was not a bird to be seen there. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone once more. such attractions and accomplishments?' "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have into the bag, and made for the door. DAMAGE. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has pictures, libraries, or plate. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. DAMAGE. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "It is very clear." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired with frightened eyes at his accuser. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "Not particularly." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "But it has twice been burgled." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending depend upon my doing so.' never to learn it at all." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Indeed! Whose, then?" one of them." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set train.' "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "My Mary? Impossible!" friend's singular character. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend approach us with offers to donate. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it outsides of the windows. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of what these perils are?" of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "What can it mean?" I gasped. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will you." nothing with him." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and 'please.'" was not a bird to be seen there. that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. the room while you explain this matter?" "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way