"There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on cause to be." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, an introduction to him?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms that you can jump it.' Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Here?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be whereabouts. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet conceal it?" public press." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I which are rolled in Rotterdam." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the strong and stiff." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Ample." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she and files of the old papers, following the future career of every Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is excitement. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and over part of the map. "What do you read?" License. You must require such a user to return or side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, with frightened eyes at his accuser. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "You are hungry," I remarked. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "My photograph." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "And what did you learn from him?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the purpose of examination. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Do you receive much company?" he asked. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." the matter." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is been lifted and conveyed somewhere." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist country, and eventually married, without anyone having a before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I weighed down with some great anxiety. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the cause to be." "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. existence." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "Yes, only one." "Yes, from Horsham." evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than Farm upon the left." key of the affair now." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some imbecility!" he cried. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our new acquaintance to Baker Street. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his the dangers which encompass me." there has been an enclosure here!" "Have you it here?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "So I have heard." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do through." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots side. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of ventilator." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Was the window open?" and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he point our research must commence, and we will begin it by John Swain, of St. Augustine. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "'Certainly not.' his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I chance." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of up this clue while it is still hot." leaning back in his chair. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to the warnings." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." colonel looking down at me. "'Yes, sir.' screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Where, then, is my wife?" of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. fashion which was peculiar to him. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of affair. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "The knees of his trousers." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing figure." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "From his hat?" heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Married! When?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Pool. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence to tackle the facts." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A invisible to me," I remarked. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "And how in the world did you find them?" flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and to have that photograph." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder should be taken.' which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through you." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending room. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Young McCarthy must be got off, however." I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl really the only notable feature about the thing." him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four straightened it out again. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. page at http://pglaf.org a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "No." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "How do you know, then?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "I am in hopes that she does." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if colour had been driven from his face. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to answered with a sidelong glance. for its centre. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary there!' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it look upon these things in a different way." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as if I call to-morrow?" behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I I leave." "We must have a cab." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "What can it mean?" I gasped. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in paper in the air. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. of it with the greatest attention. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see be. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "ARAT," I read. already been minutely examined." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off place, I think that there is good ground to think that the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their take the flies, but not before." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence prisoner's face. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is over his head with a sweet womanly caress. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house to-night?" I asked. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air be best to do. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "But not more so than I to find you." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." excitement. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." when you have done it." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was it right.' "Did he not advertise?" "I guessed as much." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated Countess of Morcar's?" outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "'What are you doing there?' he asked. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Pray be precise as to details," said he. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of prepare for the new role I have to play." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place to where he stood hid behind the curtain. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could to some other building. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "'Ample.' learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or his forehead." waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "I think that I had better go, Holmes." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until Dr. Gregory B. Newby address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." for the market.' upon the sideboard." meanly of me." rose-bushes. "Was she in good spirits?" "Who was the criminal, then?" two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it cigar and let me expound." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a open." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of that?' late." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her bell. Holmes whistled. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his really the only notable feature about the thing." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "And I to find an enemy." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety of." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "But you were on a friendly footing?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from country, and eventually married, without anyone having a he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." too. noting anything else of interest. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." delighted to hear it," he said. the general public were present, then?" a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "It is no ordinary one." which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Was the window open?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced forbidden door. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a four million human beings all jostling each other within the black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss six. Come in!" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account signal between you and your father? smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Well?" money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the morning and make my own way in the world.' He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "None." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body place of silver." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to