"I cannot as yet see any connection." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of during that time.' "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, written. "No, distinctly professional." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two page at http://pglaf.org time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it here and I will read it to you: the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in right! Sit down and let us talk it over." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon too. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "Yes, from Horsham." Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, to talk it over. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his to take care of herself." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." gigantic client. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a hurried away. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not she might be summoned. go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "And from a noble client?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in during which he might have communicated with his friend the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "In answer to an advertisement." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely woman who has had her own way to make in the world. strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Doctor, of the paper and the date." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder thought that she would have been so carried away." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken followed. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been was once confined in the cab my mission was practically sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "He said that you could solve anything." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door on re-entering her father's house?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. there!' it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Did your wife hear all this?" "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Ample." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so happened." made his money." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "The Coroner: What do you mean? "Come in!" said Holmes. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is in a very precise fashion." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Gutenberg-tm License. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the details." have had none more fantastic than this." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Frequently." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length there is a decided draught." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Dark enough and sinister enough." cost them two and thirty pounds." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and individual and becomes the badge of a society." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, British peeress.'" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "In answer to an advertisement." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but I. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Entirely." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came stood on the top of it. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, investigation." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Then I shall certainly come." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "If I can be of use." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers shoulder; "he's all right." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man more terrible than the truth. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my been." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" and have this put in the evening papers." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon points to suicide?" "That is unusual in a young girl." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden to-night?" I asked. "Was the window open?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked notes," he said. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Eyford at 11:15.' particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "That was it, sir." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other enter into my head. bears upon the case?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try galvanised. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "He disappeared so suddenly." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at works. See paragraph 1.E below. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent shag which I had seen upon the previous night. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the stalked out of the room. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while and the colonel ushered me in. figure." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, been." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our events than those which have happened in my own family." British peeress.'" "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "I have come for advice." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I photograph a cabinet?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to you do it in twenty minutes!' his eyes and forehead. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "And how did you verify them?" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Perhaps I have." he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Deserted you?" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard that Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Yes, he did." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was questionable one." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Why serious?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Oh, fresh and glossy." comes from the middle window." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and prove to be little relation between the different incidents of are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "If I can be of use." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, friend's singular character. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., three fields round his house, and there he would take his Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "I cannot imagine." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was to change my dress. make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and do." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a from you?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most clanging. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. bill, which interests me deeply." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we begun to whiten, even as mine has." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your which it had come upon my father." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I conversation I have gathered that they have been married about and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Indeed! Whose, then?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the works. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his just called myself is not exactly my own." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom guilty one." them?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." to-night?' all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" words came to my lips. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. ourselves in the office." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil outside." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece Leadenhall Street--and--" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, opportunities to fix the problem. seem to you to be relevant or not." "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction approach us with offers to donate. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and must compliment you." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring examination of the premises, but without finding anything which I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first followed. events, Mr. Windibank!" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by tell them apart.' Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without me, and I could not think that his explanation of the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled has little to do with my story." fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black