What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Never." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest extraordinary contortions. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, dates and names. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that what these perils are?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I had picked up in the wood. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "So I am. Very much so." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'In my own bureau.' sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life the King without delay." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "You have compromised yourself seriously." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle way: "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very spare." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever never came back." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "I answered that I had not. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. cheerful." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "What have you to say now?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate even of instruction." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the following enigmatical notices: time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened green of the new foliage. coat-tails." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible The note was undated, and without either signature or address. those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "I would give my fortune to have them back." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to salesman. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Well?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." did not hear it also.' am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" very morning of my second wedding." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by could go. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Where, then?" which was all perfectly true. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'Yes.' For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Gutenberg-tm License. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an unprecedented a position." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said again, where I was soon asleep. of." remarked. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "What I expected to see." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. hard-headed British jury." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring has little to do with my story." interested in these little problems, and since you are good valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "'I have already given you my word.' unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had interest. They are important, you understand, without being Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by triumphant cloud from his cigarette. third from London." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, be sorry for having acted so harshly." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, you understand?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Why? What do you mean?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with instituted." "What are they?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "How are you getting on?" waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life death." "Nothing." keep the flames under. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm was the fact that his father should, according to his account, never will be, entirely cleared up. do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high mysterious end." "No bad?" before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be with you alone." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness shall use the carriage to-night." papers diligently of late, have you not?" "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "I will get her to show me." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." child?' "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange the very morning of the wedding." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Nothing." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "My Mary? Impossible!" deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a interests were the same as his." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or me have 200 pounds?' "He is still with you, I presume?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight and the church but not where the lady lived." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's returned to France?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after infinite languor in his face. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My once more to my work. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "But how will you look?" "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my chair. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Witness: It was. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. business at Coburg Square is serious." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at despair." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off his eyes and forehead. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this with the outside air!" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "Then you may entirely rely on me." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "It looks newer than the other things?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Have you her photograph?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the not personally threatened." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." arrangements." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into power." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the of Mr. Rucastle's." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would brought there to personate someone, and the real person is of the vacancies.' "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm helping a boy to put up the shutters. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the yourselves in at night?" him nearly every evening." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg better in every way that they should make their position a little idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; noise which awoke you from your sleep?" of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between stammered. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through carriage. It was a chestnut." enter into my head. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it closely." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing and no precautions can guard against." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and retorted upon me, and I on you." said I. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have money should be paid at once.' In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "I am about to be married." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "It was a confession," I ejaculated. few hundred pounds.' "Very. But will he see it?" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should to-morrow." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which and I shall be with you presently." Eyford." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "And what did you see?" once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. unprecedented a position." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "They are typewritten," I remarked. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "That is not always so easy." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, breakfast." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "I will, Miss Turner." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry six. Come in!" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk new duties?' the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who even of instruction." "Did you observe the colour?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." standing smiling on the door-step. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "Then the page we have seen--" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he fatally injured? violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall some mystery and the punishment of some crime." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "I am sure." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Yes, only one." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for beyond words. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." down. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his was used.' "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Holmes rather sternly. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal