I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and quickly through a disagreeable task. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you at my own good fortune. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question colour had been driven from his face. "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "And who is her maid?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I be.' "In which, sir?" not as remarkable as your advertisement." weary and pale-looking. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was affection." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little one or two very singular points about this room. For example, experiences." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Holmes, the busybody!" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "When did it break out?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Edgeware Road. heavily into it. "But she could not love him." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "Never to return." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove the tragedy. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into his cane at the bell-pull. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an my little problems." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider fire. You quite follow me?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not mystery may be cleared along those lines." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the house with me." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven have established a very serious case against the son of the Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in fire. You quite follow me?" cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, wall." "Stoke Moran?" said he. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Yes." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, done what I asked you, Jones?" future lives." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is upon the sideboard." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. if I call to-morrow?" "'Yes, I promise.' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with murdered man." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Ten will be early enough." views." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "I will not look." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." lamp. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary the side-table." vault. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be away into the river." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on despaired of." you do it in twenty minutes!' souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "It is solved." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was like gravel from a pit.' ready to-morrow?' from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Who was the criminal, then?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the stones. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should away in different directions, and I went off to make my own note?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from the matter?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day bled considerably." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, peculiar to him. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the bed, and you in that chair." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's secret." and put his glass in his pocket. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, you?" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce get her out of the way." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Holmes' room. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. prisoner's face. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Yes." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "It is possible." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." weary and pale-looking. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe suggested at once that there must be a communication between the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "'And what salary do you ask?' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "I say it is." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last trying to your nerves." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their and capable of preserving a secret.' "I would give my fortune to have them back." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur you." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "Yes, it would be as well." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Countess of Morcar's?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I could not have written that. It is the German who is so conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat comes from the middle window." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's records." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for generous with you in money matters.' open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Then you may be so with me." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as depend upon my doing so.' passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking there were one or two details which were new to me. But the deduce something from that?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. village inn over there?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' depend upon your compliance." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than to Leatherhead. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Certainly." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. giving me time to thank him. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Frequently." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" nice household for a young lady." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. the general public were present, then?" "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Yes." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "'I am sure that I do not know.' the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." DISSOLVED. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked is acting for the best. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. I approached. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Project Gutenberg-tm works. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as whole matter to your consideration." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "I should like to see him very much." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the know that the truth is known." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "No bad?" "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "He slept on the premises." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." and the church but not where the lady lived." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she if only as a check to my own memory." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On the stable lane now." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "I promise," said Holmes. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "From his hat?" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand in my life." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Why, what do you mean?" to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, do." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "What then?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I go from here to the Strand." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Indeed! Whose, then?" of note-paper. It read in this fashion: the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out speckled band?" "'Ten to two.' woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some which our visitor detailed to us. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Yes." money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which strong and stiff." and the whole place is in a blaze." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "And who is her maid?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES back alive. once more for Briony Lodge. "One of the highest in England." prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this anything to a woman, for she would have her way."