confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "Which are?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at were unconscious?" "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "So I am. Very much so." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, For additional contact information: over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, that, and I came down." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "Dr. Becher's." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since which are rolled in Rotterdam." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We to tackle the facts." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from official police." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Doctor, of the paper and the date." carriage. It was a chestnut." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say conduct the inquiry." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his danger is over." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Witness: It was. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me bled considerably." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "I would pay ten." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative coroner's jury." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New vault. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "But his left-handedness." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "Will you go?" the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The even so self-evident a thing as that." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned chambers. the bottom.' in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I corner of the building. that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my rose-bushes. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have it? Did I buy the geese off you?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the habit of advancing money.' signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If detained." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who into the bag, and made for the door. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By man. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of dear old homesteads?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I congenial hunt. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself I. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "'Most admirably.' for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the to-night?" I asked. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some written. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a becomes even more simple." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements points in connection with it which never have been, and probably key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked death." "What, then, did Peterson do?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "I should be immensely obliged to you." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of ready to-morrow?' wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "She told me to ask you." "There are none." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. him." "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "No." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if written. "My stepfather's business papers." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution said he. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" meant it for the best. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." off." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Yes, only one." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me might have a private word with us. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Dr. Becher's." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." looking up at the numbers of the houses." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated my secret was safe in his possession. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "But how?" I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Yes. He waved his hands." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the new acquaintance to Baker Street. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry which should have the effect of calling the attention of the A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six and capable of preserving a secret.' what do you think they found in the pockets?" seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "You have a clue?" off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the which our visitor detailed to us. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Pray do so." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "Was the window open?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "On the contrary, this is the right side." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon himself to tell his story. it. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered writers could invent nothing more crude." opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some at my own good fortune. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "We must have a cab." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "You'll never persuade me to believe that." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your said he at last. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "Then he might have called to you?" writing, and yet I know it well." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want more terrible than the truth. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "And you can do nothing until then?" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." seen the man in the road." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their beg that you will break it off." woman." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not him nearly every evening." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we like gravel from a pit.' owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. returning from some small jollification and was making his way the stones. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "Do you go out much in society?" family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you never will be, entirely cleared up. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together to miss it." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the King without delay." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I have accepted such a situation. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' bearing upon the case." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so suggested at once that there must be a communication between the the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under particular state visit http://pglaf.org disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. colour had been driven from his face. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "In answer to an advertisement." "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "And who is her maid?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Yes." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." purpose of examination. done what I asked you, Jones?" the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while subject to the trademark license, especially commercial investigation." someone who had been in Australia." little adventures." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a already referred to. "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "'Yes, sir.' been able to understand it, in a very few words. humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "He said too much." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it colonel looking down at me. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as 'I should be able to look after that for you.' a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads a monotonous occupation." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "I fear not." "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "'I have already given you my word.' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 meant." Mary, has deserted me." "No?" her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "You don't mind breaking the law?" "In which, sir?" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them are, and they are waiting for us." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature vague figure huddled up in the darkness. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned again." have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as should be taken.' "No good news?" disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "'I am sure if I had known--' off." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "I was mad--insane." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, locked." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Dirty?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, nights." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for Mary, has deserted me." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which bled considerably."