faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and more solid." was used.' Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Holmes, the busybody!" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Nothing." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Have you good authority for what you say?" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Then he might have called to you?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Yes." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly questioning and rather startled gaze. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "How can you tell that?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated there in twenty minutes." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he companion imperturbably. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "No, finished." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover spare." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was main points of my analysis." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right walking." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He information in his hands the value of which he did not himself defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes one which it was hard to resist. garden below. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and window when the police appeared." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been his huge brown hands. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout deduce something from that?" "Certainly." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. notes," he said. do.' "And did you observe any change in her then?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to presented which may be striking and bizarre without being and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. head. So long, then!" simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon manager. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly of the efforts of the United States government and of the better to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." This is what he says: was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may instincts rose up against that laugh. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs James Windibank. Voilà tout!" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Yes, the wine-cellar." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and cigars in the box." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "When did she vanish, then?" through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "Did you observe the colour?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Yes, but only for you and me." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to green of the new foliage. beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Yes." should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "No, but the enclosure is." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, legal crime." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is with the outside air!" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." chance." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King begun to whiten, even as mine has." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism official police." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and points in connection with it which never have been, and probably prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "He slept on the premises." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's memory. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing easy-going way." "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the at my remark. make me his representative both with the servants and with the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we the bed, and you in that chair." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily once more. these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I any little problem which you may submit to me." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; directly by questioning you." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his extraordinary contortions. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. sentimental considerations in the background which would induce purpose equally well?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more better grown goose." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are the room while you explain this matter?" "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, said he at last. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "That is also quite modern," said the lady. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "That is possible." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "Proceed, then." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner and have this put in the evening papers." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Well." wedding?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very of the way of danger. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A seem to you to be relevant or not." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Never." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "'I shall certainly be there.' the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" he died? "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "How on earth--" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Yes." Henry Baker is a member." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and information in his hands the value of which he did not himself can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "What shall I do?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." status with the IRS. "What! You do not mean bodies?" that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here His name is Francis Prosper." chair. despaired of." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "No bad?" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" way in everything. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. such attractions and accomplishments?' "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I cannot think." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Pray tell us what has happened to you." undoubtedly my uncle's." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we seem to you to be relevant or not." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "None." main points of my analysis." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you never came back." Heh?' been shamefully used." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Your French gold?" run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten said I. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a During two years I have had three consultations and one small Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Will you bet, then?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in exactly what you advise." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent with the outside air!" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the hardly wander." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, open." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police if she died from some sudden fright." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, not, dad?" she asked. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, exactly what you advise." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' a few minutes he said that it would be all right. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and Pool. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Yes, there are nearly always some there." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow gives a meaning to it." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless you give your casting vote to?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed lamp in his hand. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "And how did you verify them?" dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 said I. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "One?" what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "But you were on a friendly footing?" Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive here." father's young wife. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "At what time?" Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in hardly wander." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such nonsense.' "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear to arrive at through this?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss think that he is innocent?" "Well, some hundreds of times." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting notes," he said. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting felt?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES foot. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, little adventures." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "And I say east," said my patient. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "When did it break out?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. little trying to do so much typewriting?" one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' hurried away. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Yes." "But what is it you wish?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax II. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "It is possible." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess that?' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us secret." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "No, thank goodness, she did not." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery that there was nothing in it, after all." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom,