to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any test if we have an answer to our advertisement." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does was shining brightly. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "'Is 4 pounds a week.' have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "An enemy?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "BALLARAT." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the woman." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, help us in this matter." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his strength." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "What! You do not mean bodies?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I was mad--insane." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending might help us?" impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Then you may be so with me." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a night.' said he. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I came to find a friend." husband's writing, madam." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, shadow pass over his face as I spoke. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, you?' insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of notes," he said. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her upon a handsome competence. once more to my work. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Then I can wait in the next room." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. gone. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the an introduction to him?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a away into the river." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the hour." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "How can you tell that?" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further house for five minutes.' go from here to the Strand." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "What, then, did Peterson do?" force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "It certainly sounds feasible." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek hands. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle her also." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the already been minutely examined." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Yes, sir." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will did not hear it also.' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Eyford." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. and looked back. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "No good news?" wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in in my life." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to and prosperity to your house. Good-night." detective. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. lips." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long interests were the same as his." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Who by?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such of his shoulders. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock article?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of question. "We have tried and failed." letters?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. infinite languor in his face. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." points to suicide?" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "What then?" taking in every detail of the apartment. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." Have you good authority for what you say?" with her." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "And what did you see?" "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Has he come with you to-night?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I tied." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and introspective fashion. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'As governess?' old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Not yet." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if the best of training." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end test if we have an answer to our advertisement." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Dirty?" photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary acquaintance?" I leave." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the second window is the one that I jumped from." Pool. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled even of instruction." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere clang of the bell. occurred." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no his face which made him a very different person to the round, means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "That's no good." companion. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me any more." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy From what you have told me I think that it is possible that vault. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. meant." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Well, it is a possible supposition." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be dramatic, in fact." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his asked. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. with her." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "What, then, did Peterson do?" gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, information in his hands the value of which he did not himself recover the gem." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple seen the man in the road." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, becomes even more simple." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry three of the beryls in it, was missing. morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the main points of my analysis." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a all-comprehensive glances. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm intrusion of other matters." wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "You think so, too?" "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales cheerful." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, been with you?" "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again humiliation." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which visitors." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an and effective." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is coroner's jury." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. room?" peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding it." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. guilty parties." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for held up the lantern and gazed about him. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, sparkled upon his finger. constraint." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an and it need not interfere very much with one's other unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of there." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "I beg pardon." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "I don't believe it." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "The murder was done with it." and put his glass in his pocket. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting assist you in forming an opinion." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson over here." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "None. Neville wrote those words." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through visitors." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some never came back." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the