think, you have already met." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "In heaven's name, what for?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "From his hat?" awaited us upon the table. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Never to return." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course this as likely?" which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "'What, the red-headed man?' collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I as this. Pray let me have the details." bare slabs of marble. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can both be extremely obliged.' was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." McCarthy's innocence. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It are, and they are waiting for us." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong if she died from some sudden fright." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that served to weaken the effect. digesting their breakfasts at home." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is official police." had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not neither fascinating nor artistic." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. For additional contact information: "What office?" my room." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he it. "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than country, and eventually married, without anyone having a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "I am all attention, madam." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE of the efforts of the United States government and of the better distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me and glanced through. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Imitated." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "The King of Scandinavia." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Yes, that is the Crown." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES never came back." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited that?' bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "'As governess?' 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the round with crates and massive boxes. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Cross for the Continent." or other trace. But how on earth--" door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and was it brought him the coronet? "Yes." surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and attention." that you wished to speak to me?' "I guessed as much." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "None." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "And did you observe any change in her then?" with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual before, for it was considerably after midnight. near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then learned something! Where are the gems?" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "But you can know nothing of this?" strong reason behind." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused vague figure huddled up in the darkness. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent yards of it?' 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to of his shoulders. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. little adventures." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite felt the room to be a little close.' the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "To an end?" "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Her father is very rich?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, results." there." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "A confidential servant?" maid will bring up your coffee." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in perplexity from it to my illustrious client. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "You horrify me." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, that I can to serve you." over with notes and figures. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, his face which made him a very different person to the round, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We I leave." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone likely to be some crony of the landlady's." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked a little more before I quite committed myself. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "Your French gold?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little hurried away. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "The Cedars?" VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the companion imperturbably. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in behind me. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was taking in every detail of the apartment. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, than to us. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover points to suicide?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "And when will you call?" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose started for the Temple to see my husband. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "To an end?" the inner apartment." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first have I gained?" "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "I have seen the police." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his lamp. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the trying to your nerves." compunction about shooting them down." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the vanished into the darkness. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are vague figure huddled up in the darkness. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the which we had just quitted. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which interested in these little problems, and since you are good and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do The events in question occurred in the early days of my the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "By no means." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" note?" their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "In San Francisco, a year ago." "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are easy-going way." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not 'I should be able to look after that for you.' owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "My photograph." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does detained." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I of the one which your family is now devouring." humiliation." "What! a murderous attack?" "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "'I have already given you my word.' "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, cigar and let me expound." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "And how have you succeeded?" front of me. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "You are all wrong." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, do.' upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is had died away into the silence from which it rose. a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the asked. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and you?' "'Which dealer's?' correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the good for you to do.' the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out carried out of court." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "A client, then?" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "What can it mean?" I gasped. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "If I can be of use." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, kind enough to tell me what I should do." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague acquaintance?" will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this putting in the horse. an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his During two years I have had three consultations and one small to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I there were so many in the whole country as were brought together there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "What! a murderous attack?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was sneer upon his pale face. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Then I shall certainly come." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "And how did he make his money?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Munro.' prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached held up the lantern and gazed about him. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "It looks newer than the other things?" sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about which it had come upon my father." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "It is his hat." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet most interesting one." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "No, finished." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. fact, we may call it conclusive." beg that you will break it off." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines.