that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful name is different." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an pressing in one house as in another. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to on re-entering her father's house?" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "We have tried and failed." "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I this poor creature." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her down in his armchair and closing his eyes. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Yes." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms skylight. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many and put his glass in his pocket. "That is not always so easy." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to confronted him. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and shoulder. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we man. I know him from the photograph." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the heavy and sharp instrument." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "What shall I do?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great down. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes do." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the girl said." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through simple cases which are so extremely difficult." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her walking." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of the very morning of the wedding." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." the morning and make my own way in the world.' chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a hereditary King of Bohemia." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "What shall I do?" "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands him and tried to hold him back. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "And how in the world did you find them?" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there as yours." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him power." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "How on earth--" can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." once more to my work. her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, papers." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must indeed happy." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "'Certainly not. But why?' "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "You did not overhear what they said?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" to affect your life." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "If so, much may have happened between." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "And the murderer?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "Do you go out much in society?" "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he will not take me long to tell. to-night's adventure." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "By all means." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "Perfectly so." greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." happened." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "And how?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Where does the thing come from?' dates and names. "Nothing." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching six. Come in!" certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "And now?" I asked. "The Coroner: What do you mean? came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some me have 200 pounds?' "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "Come in!" said he. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for door?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "'I shall certainly be there.' in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He despair." "Oh, fresh and glossy." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through forehead. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Have you it here?" thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, again before evening." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the stable lane now." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still is," said he presently: When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those and capable of preserving a secret.' LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE detained." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very since then to throw any light upon what became of him." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" back to my heart. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the His smile broadened. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." bachelor.' "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "But she could not love him." "I would pay ten." anything to do with the matter?" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, be best to do. morning." "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said simple cases which are so extremely difficult." said he. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. other means.' INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we perplexity from it to my illustrious client. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' head. So long, then!" sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Not particularly." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered bare slabs of marble. "It is possible." happened." detained." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Certainly, madam." "But to whom?" "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" least a fellow-countryman. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a shoulder; "he's all right." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, it." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his and shall probably return to London by the evening train." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock could gather together that I was able to avert another public with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "That you are never beaten." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "I would pay ten." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the closing the door. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." for its centre. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will even so self-evident a thing as that." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Yes." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, 1.F. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "And did you observe any change in her then?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily this Miss Turner." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always said he. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, one which it was hard to resist. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed I shall communicate with you." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and arrested. You then--" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs noble correspondent could be. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if is worth.' X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Serpentine Avenue. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? and laid it on the table. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to over here." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not sparkled upon his finger. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from to a light-house. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "Here?" when your master had gone out." even of instruction." peculiar to him. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "'What do you call purely nominal?' leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic the coroner come to?" base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the chambers. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor my secret was safe in his possession. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Pray continue your narrative." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it page at http://pglaf.org but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing said he, "my real name is James Ryder." appointment with me for six o'clock?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything will not take me long to tell. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "It certainly sounds feasible." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were business came to an end." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and joking. I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be I shall communicate with you." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless until night should bring an explanation. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Foundation "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "The murder was done with it." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "You have the photograph?" look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' weary and pale-looking. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and call for it in person on Monday morning.' coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of