"Ah!" that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that call for protection in the marriage market, for the present sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Entirely." that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Mrs. Toller serenely. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "And how did he make his money?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, which we had just quitted. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before hardly wander." telegram would bring me down to your help." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "I have my revolver," said I. "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the our word." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders character. "And for present expenses?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own never to learn it at all." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "And did you observe any change in her then?" discontent upon his features. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, voice, changing her seat as requested. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "And I." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "'I am sure if I had known--' should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both enter into my head. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Well?" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some address. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote in a very precise fashion." 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock he. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the to have been novel and of interest." in this note: All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, floor. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "Can I be of assistance?" sound at heart." cigars in the box." the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Whose house is it?" "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Always." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an his knees, staring into the fire. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Edgeware Road. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, burst out into a roar of laughter. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in husband's writing, madam." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that until night should bring an explanation. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a front of the hall door has given its name to the place. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "But you were on a friendly footing?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the lost nothing by them." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Yes, I have one waiting." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat some terrible trap for her." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, It may be so in this case, also." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine of Mr. Rucastle's." waste of energy." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may companion. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting out of this horrible affair." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but letters?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "And when will you call?" small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual spare." send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the place of silver." London for the present?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" upon an income of about 60 pounds." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Look there!" said he. may have an influence upon European history." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "What, then, did Peterson do?" note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, remarked. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Eyford." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when has little to do with my story." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal that before taking the final step I should like to submit the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the you." all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a you." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? mystery may be cleared along those lines." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow to that open window." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they article?" the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "But how did you gain them?" "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "I cannot say that I have." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It nothing with him." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the matter." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "'Why that?' I asks. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of chair. than to us. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "Yes." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "And the cigar-holder?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Eh? What was that?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to your billet.' greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Now, then, what's the last entry?" Young McCarthy must be got off, however." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and strength." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover point in the dark hollow of his hand. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without me upon any point which I do not make clear." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Certainly." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few papers must be those that are destroyed.' Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, soul! here is her carriage at the door." "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but constraint." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "The Coroner: What do you mean? "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for pound a week." already been minutely examined." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "No?" loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Absolutely none." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, presented more singular features than that which was associated "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was made his money." rat could hardly pass through." "Only as much as we can deduce." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they in this note: it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature populous neighbourhood." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "And now?" He raised his hand. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with a little more before I quite committed myself. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, gentleman's clothes. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Where is it, then?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a crackling voice. bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "No." that he has suffered." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. 1.E.9. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "I am still in the dark." "It is possible." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, stalked out of the room. "I cannot as yet see any connection." that he has suffered." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "But I have heard all that you have heard." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "But how?" said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." if I call to-morrow?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "Nearly eleven." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely at my own good fortune. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the think that he is innocent?" he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "'No, I know no one in these parts.' happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "'Why that?' I asks. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "My stepfather's business papers." "No bad?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to taking in every detail of the apartment. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Pray do so." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat the very morning of the wedding." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Then what has happened to him?" good-night and bustled off upon her way. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "In the cells." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that begin with, and I had not got mine yet." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I in. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His pound a week." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the better in every way that they should make their position a little "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and of receipt of the work. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle