flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were habit of advancing money.' to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "You are hungry," I remarked. figure." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Yes. He waved his hands." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if nonsense.' "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "It certainly sounds feasible." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and over here." "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then acquaintance?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "What! You do not mean bodies?" one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which hereditary King of Bohemia." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. really the only notable feature about the thing." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" said he. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through distinguish the words: "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light himself to tell his story. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and next day. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut ourselves in the office." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly leave you to your papers for a little." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular works. See paragraph 1.E below. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Precisely so. But how--" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "The landlord of the Alpha." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." certainly not very gracious." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." I am not easy in my mind about them." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down appeared upon the scene." "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever that I may have something better before very many minutes are liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our is four-and-twenty." so far?" With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great thin legs towards the fire. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" thirty. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" fat-encircled eyes. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story manager. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Yes, sir." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms him!" reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a views." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's never came back." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "How did that help you?" matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to tied." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the very morning of the wedding." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round you give your casting vote to?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he strode off upon his way. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this existence." "Not yet." Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the night.' said he. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the crowd. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our to have that photograph." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United status with the IRS. extraordinary contortions. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES works. See paragraph 1.E below. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "And help." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "I am to be neutral?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "And help." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the go back?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "But he might be a bachelor." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the little opening for the ventilator is." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I married her." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "When did it break out?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you danger is over." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his it right.' "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It cigar and let me expound." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his criminal. We have already had experience of such." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' works. to-night's adventure." chance at all." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are the loss of it. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your until night should bring an explanation. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten photograph a cabinet?" for the market.' burst out into a roar of laughter. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" and all of them with the keenest interest. "Ample." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "But to whom?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those how narrow had been my escape. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not because she had spent so short a time in this country that she which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Then you may entirely rely on me." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "No good news?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "I shall most certainly do so." foresight and the moral retrogression?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Certainly." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Never." sentimental considerations in the background which would induce in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had disturbance in my wife." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm jewels which you have stolen?' husband's writing, madam." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room to where he stood hid behind the curtain. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in address. depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the good-night and bustled off upon her way. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Street. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not writing, and yet I know it well." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening security.' hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if questioning and rather startled gaze. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune you do it in twenty minutes!' the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "If I can be of use." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Really! You surprise me." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "My Mary? Impossible!" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Which surely he restored to their owner?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of fire. You quite follow me?" even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "It is solved." crackling voice. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Edgeware Road. "I cannot as yet see any connection." village inn over there?" halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of when your master had gone out." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by You can understand that this register and diary may implicate go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every remarked. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Why did you beat the pavement?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we into the room. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone so.' week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the skylight. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "He said that you could solve anything." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "And how did you find out?" Henry Baker is a member." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have It was close upon four before the door opened, and a are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small Sutherland?" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project as yours." voice, changing her seat as requested. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not bird I ate is country bred." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand any more." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to know what is wrong with it.' from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call "By no means." been able to understand it, in a very few words. the very morning of the wedding." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who head. So long, then!" "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with quickly through a disagreeable task. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "Witness: I must still refuse. wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Countess of Morcar's?" he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the against a man in the prime of life?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. desk. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other what is your own theory as to what took place?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great some water from a caraffe. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had suddenly upon us." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Leadenhall Street--and--" I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly brought there to personate someone, and the real person is branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?"