the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: some water from a caraffe. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "That you are never beaten." "No, thank goodness, she did not." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow photograph?" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "'Entirely.' "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "My private note-paper." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never three of the beryls in it, was missing. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through and your relations to her." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "And who is her maid?" "So I am. Very much so." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution narrative." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector happened." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his other means.' "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Yes." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I have a cab outside." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Did he not advertise?" and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had any." errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself My friend smiled. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "You have a clue?" Does that suggest anything?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an searched, without anything being found which could incriminate fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "And your mother is alive?" business in the City. She little knew what. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "Ah, but I was recommended to you." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling of the way of danger. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "My photograph." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled of fine shops and stately business premises that they really have got?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak someone who had been in Australia." however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was strength in the others." "Will you bet, then?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud I am not easy in my mind about them." "And it is--" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless something of him before." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Never." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was been lifted and conveyed somewhere." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Yes, certainly." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging dear old homesteads?" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to together. has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "'I shall certainly be there.' "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "And the cigar-holder?" taking in every detail of the apartment. "I promise," said Holmes. in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my breakfast and whispered something to her husband. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "None." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See distance from the station, and there we found the young lady been able to understand it, in a very few words. remarked. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "I promise," said Holmes. there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "'And what are they worth?' I asked. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "I saw her in conversation with her maid." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about wedding?" "The knees of his trousers." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "It is very kind of you." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To way in." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was This is what he says: "The knees of his trousers." man. I know him from the photograph." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the been deceived." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets emerged. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Can I be of assistance?" place of silver." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the bottom.' Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "I am in hopes that she does." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Did he not advertise?" "Breckinridge is his name." absorbing." a monotonous occupation." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that go from here to the Strand." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was man. "Yesterday." danger is over." enter Dr. Roylott's room." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four little adventures." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely bird of prey. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Ah, but I was recommended to you." must be when I saw the door open.' that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. to you." answer." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," one or two very singular points about this room. For example, think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "'What would be the hours?' I asked. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I retorted upon me, and I on you." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and of fine shops and stately business premises that they really sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "How are you getting on?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "This concluded the examination of the witness." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my I took the paper from him and read as follows: "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "No, finished." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my pressing in one house as in another. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Yes." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "So I heard. You have him here?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the amused." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. nothing with him." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to house for five minutes.' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. indeed which he could not unravel. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was beg that you will break it off." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Indeed! Whose, then?" impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had of the one which your family is now devouring." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the derbies." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim in a very precise fashion." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" an introduction to him?" "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "'How far from the body?' morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. indiscretion." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "She showed me, as I told you she would." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Then you may entirely rely on me." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the really the only notable feature about the thing." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? place, I think that there is good ground to think that the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "It is very kind of you." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the inner apartment." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier I held the little printed slip to the light. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "She told me to ask you." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one bonnet, and went out." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this detained." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "And Irene Adler?" "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "No." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Pray do so." array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "He is still with you, I presume?" derbies." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our maiden herself was most instructive." the window, rose as we entered. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Nothing?" tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in look upon these things in a different way." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, extraordinary contortions. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he past. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Where did you address your letters, then?" drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no awaited us upon the table. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email nonsense.' from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and results." "Did your wife hear all this?" know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back astonishment. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "By no means." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Pray continue your narrative." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their weigh very heavily upon my conscience." of the one which your family is now devouring." "And how did he make his money?" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "But his left-handedness." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly our word." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been more terrible than the truth. follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the was not a bird to be seen there. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Will you go?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would room had already been engaged for us. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Murdered?" outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what 'please.'" outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any Mrs. Toller serenely. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "An accident, I presume?" protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is only touch the interest." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of