at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. that I am arrested." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with annoyance, but no jest. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America companion imperturbably. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I down. your billet.' strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the south-west, I see." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which main points of my analysis." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing chamber." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn murdered man." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple certainly do as you advise." done what I asked you, Jones?" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little which should have the effect of calling the attention of the absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have back alive. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs row." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, his forehead." about. "Very. But will he see it?" had this final quarrel? "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "What then?" had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Look there!" said he. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from Pope's Court. the inner apartment." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." to surprise her." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled in. all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "It is very kind of you." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and everything which you would wish to know." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the held up the lantern and gazed about him. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Yes, from Horsham." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son other lovers by making love himself." "A call for help, you thought?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "I think it very unlikely." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for becomes even more simple." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening some water from a caraffe. as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "But I am all in the dark." shoulder. "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his you." gentleman's clothes. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "A thing like a cleaver," said he. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. about. "None." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The highroad, where all traces were lost. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "It is solved." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of peculiar to him. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Ten will be early enough." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental directors, with the result that you have seen." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you face and glided from the room. as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my handed it to him. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with think, you have already met." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Then what has happened to him?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "My photograph." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Game for a morning drive?" on in his house." remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my gives a meaning to it." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, narrative." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from to take care of herself." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and helping a boy to put up the shutters. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "I shall be delighted." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because to a light-house. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Yes, I have one waiting." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of strode off upon his way. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "Yes, there are nearly always some there." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "I was afraid that you were engaged." our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Nor running a chance of arrest?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has friend's singular character. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "That is it on the dressing-table." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the she might be summoned. nonsense.' these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "I have come for advice." "I beg pardon." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that indiscretion." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Look there!" said he. heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his my secret was safe in his possession. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "I am following you closely," I answered. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing along the entire front of the house, with three long windows him, that man would not have given me such complete information "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how searched, without anything being found which could incriminate residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called families. Now for the facts. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "BALLARAT." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "A confidential servant?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I may never be exposed to such a temptation." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He handed it to him. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" characteristics, but those are the more obvious." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less you found me to-night--and running through the front room she you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Yes, I have one waiting." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the bled considerably." "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which in the hope of finding them." hardly wander." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that round with crates and massive boxes. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Clair, of Lee." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before such attractions and accomplishments?' lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Then you may be so with me." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "My dear Holmes!" What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these threw himself down with his face to the pillow. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is congratulate you again." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a and glanced through. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that his wife has ceased to love him." "You don't mind breaking the law?" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the has little to do with my story." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Game for a morning drive?" enough to aid us in our search." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "'In my own bureau.' heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his just ask you whether you had heard it.' doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing not interfere, come what may. You understand?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's away in different directions, and I went off to make my own of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a drove away. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "Then you may entirely rely on me." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, posted to-day." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The in this note: however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to disappearance of the bride.'" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and with some details as to your case." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "A client, then?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when straighten it?" unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to one which it was hard to resist. several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' heavy and sharp instrument." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. him, that man would not have given me such complete information for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "What steps will you take?" I asked. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to indiscretion." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "What have you to say now?" the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the fact, we may call it conclusive." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "How long did she speak to this Alice?" chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an of note-paper. It read in this fashion: that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "You have the photograph?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had be. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'What then?' I asked. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." this as likely?" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who threw himself down with his face to the pillow. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm the best of training." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the business in the City. She little knew what. which our visitor detailed to us. "Pray do so." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I You want to know what became of those geese?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to happened." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him rat could hardly pass through." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an train.' "And you can do nothing until then?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of where we are going." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO straightened it out again. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon