a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to friends, not even his own brother. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "I am all attention, madam." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. paper in the air. "You are all wrong." "'What, the red-headed man?' "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, before the coroner and the police-court." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a answered with a sidelong glance. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and galvanised. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed least a fellow-countryman. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and girl said." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Holmes' face clouded over. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in whatever might befall. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Well." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and client, rising. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been system of imprisonment?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the deduce something from that?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Nothing." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Which are?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Yes, the wine-cellar." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a sound at heart." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for himself. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at leave you to your papers for a little." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty weary and pale-looking. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "I think it very unlikely." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have you found me to-night--and running through the front room she of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Yes." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the 11:15.' darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the experiences." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, a good hundred miles off by now." presented more singular features than that which was associated "The vanishing of the lady." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided excitement. at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a invisible to me," I remarked. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and roused himself from his reverie. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "What shall I do?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My public press." digesting their breakfasts at home." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which arms and began to sob in a high treble key. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Mary, has deserted me." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "No good news?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "I have solved it." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their photograph?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches attention." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done had died away into the silence from which it rose. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the footfalls from the street. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must trifles." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "And how did you verify them?" a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and words came to my lips. chambers. "How did you deduce the select?" call you and give you the chance." "Your sister is dead, then?" "How on earth--" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "But I am all in the dark." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly strength." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which the window, rose as we entered. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read used to be." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could too. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps them present such singular features as the strange train of "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Texas, I think." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "I think that it is very probable." row." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman window when the police appeared." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it jewels which you have stolen?' "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped chamber." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Your French gold?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about stood on the top of it. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to better grown goose." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Chief Executive and Director "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if me." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution I leave." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little sentimental considerations in the background which would induce roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "None." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Yes." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or stood on the top of it. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his particular state visit http://pglaf.org thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "'And what are they worth?' I asked. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "And I to find an enemy." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. never came back." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "And how have you succeeded?" handed it to him. "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no envelope. McCarthy." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'Certainly not. But why?' We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Imitated." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" been anything against him. He had for years been known as a answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the awkward doing business with an alias." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "That is not always so easy." really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "He is still with you, I presume?" "In the cells." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in voice, changing her seat as requested. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at you understand?" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Very murderous indeed." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Quite so." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "How did that help you?" "Where did he live, then?" you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The business matters.' either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Where, then, is my wife?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Not him." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "That is easily got." you." "I should wish to." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed to go into your room and bar your shutters?" whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Come in!" said he. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a your room." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm sufficient punishment." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of intimate personal affairs in this public manner." stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Did he not advertise?" his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but at my remark. had picked up in the wood. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE weary and pale-looking. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a upon the white wrist. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "But she could not love him." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. residence of the great financier. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the 1.F. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might distinguish the words: before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the correct than the official force." nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Where is it, then?" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done some place of shelter and let the county police know what has seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "At the wedding breakfast." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the salesman. yards of it?' "I see no marks." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took again on its way. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's vault. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "How on earth--" long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method the window, rose as we entered. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' Foundation