that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most possible that we could bring him back to her? down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw interested in these little problems, and since you are good in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "What can it mean?" I gasped. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" the little opening for the ventilator is." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I before, for it was considerably after midnight. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "What do you mean?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, him nearly every evening." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant do.' returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how galvanised. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. dates and names. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each outsides of the windows. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train friend's singular character. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Did your wife hear all this?" counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and be best to do. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for in darkness. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Heh?' surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "She will not sell." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, which was all perfectly true. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door Sholtos." clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "No good news?" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking to miss it." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before this poor creature." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the over part of the map. "What do you read?" chair. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "What do you mean?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering miles off. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is train.' must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" salesman. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Literary Archive Foundation "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs cup of tea. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you your troubles." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest bonnet, and went out." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "One of his hands." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what within hail.' had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary money should be paid at once.' screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Was there a secret marriage?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists lost his Christmas dinner." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she to change my dress. "Did you observe the colour?" could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. thirty. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Sholtos." infinite languor in his face. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, at my remark. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view begin with, and I had not got mine yet." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Of what?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Well, it is a possible supposition." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "No?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached to that open window." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the photograph?" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. man. "You have a clue?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with redistribution. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This of receipt of the work. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "The decline of his fortunes, then?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "'It is locked up,' I answered. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just problems help me to do so." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "I came to find a friend." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his chill to my heart. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "And from a noble client?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Not in a good cause." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" and capable of preserving a secret.' that before taking the final step I should like to submit the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Where, then?" morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." presume?" done what I asked you, Jones?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Who was the criminal, then?" to where he stood hid behind the curtain. access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "What! Had he lost his wife?" of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no the coroner come to?" forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, mystery!" man. "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "No more words. Get out!" position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no annoyance, but no jest. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." my special province." "Not him." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the purpose equally well?" disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, criminal. We have already had experience of such." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "How on earth--" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen have had none more fantastic than this." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend breakfast." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "What can it mean?" I gasped. Miss Holder?" call you and give you the chance." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Is he quiet?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." you." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice events than those which have happened in my own family." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "But I have heard all that you have heard." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES must compliment you." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard you, my dear young lady?' 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about examine." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the house with me." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "I have a cab outside." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it served to weaken the effect. freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest http://www.gutenberg.net "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "No, I am descending." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who legal crime." just called myself is not exactly my own." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I occupations.' side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," and it need not interfere very much with one's other whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our his face. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a speckled band?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear upon a handsome competence. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." third from London." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that During two years I have had three consultations and one small "No bad?" death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very 'please.'" "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "On your arm?" "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Foundation "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, our word." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." DAMAGE. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his charged with?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King appeared upon the scene." "VIOLET HUNTER." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "Yes." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be tail." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "You have the photograph?" I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after to where he stood hid behind the curtain. fact, we may call it conclusive." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not noise which awoke you from your sleep?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "Not I." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see emerged. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the villagers almost as much as their master. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "The landlord of the Alpha." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police Pope's Court, Fleet Street." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of God! What an exposure! What can I do?" lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed you came in." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming sound at heart." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Oh, the cause is excellent!" his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an in this way: "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship."