little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand gentleman's clothes. and the whole place is in a blaze." least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up that the gas is not laid on in his house?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back gigantic client. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "It's nothing of the kind." XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES bell. Holmes whistled. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "Here?" had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "He disappeared so suddenly." lectures into a series of tales." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I noting anything else of interest. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "And I say east," said my patient. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable mysterious end." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I ordinary clothes on?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and been." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the swore that no one else had been in the front room during the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." in the hope of finding them." man. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "I don't say that. Perhaps." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a get the tickets." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." of." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "No." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was in this note: morning." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' pressing in one house as in another. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "You will not go there first?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Did your wife hear all this?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, to-morrow." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Yes." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." gives a meaning to it." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My dead, shall be safe with us." your most interesting statement." and that he would see to anything that turned up. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits if only as a check to my own memory." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "'Very good.' obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure fasten all the windows?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as breakfast?" This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his charged with?" Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the round with crates and massive boxes. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." round with crates and massive boxes. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. formed some opinion?" thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "I should like to see him very much." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a touch that coronet?' untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "I was afraid that you were engaged." "And how did you find out?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his south, for the country is more deserted there." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK coat-tails." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up hurried by. "No good news?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "It is possible." "'As governess?' "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been and prosperity to your house. Good-night." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do what I may call a really hard day's work." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will some water from a caraffe. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Which are?" spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. open." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Thank you. And your address?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "And how have you succeeded?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel note?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held upon the sideboard." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did quite distinctive." good for you to do.' The telegram which we eventually received came late one night it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my brought there to personate someone, and the real person is earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned seem to you to be relevant or not." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; one else, I think." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "How did you deduce the select?" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "From his hat?" lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "'Most admirably.' where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Where, then?" together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." this man was intellectual?" of the efforts of the United States government and of the better perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "I think it very unlikely." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "And what did you see?" "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest was a perfect sample of the class. go back?" struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray I approached. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the maid will bring up your coffee." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may to-night?" I asked. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram evidence," I remarked. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot someone who had been in Australia." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very them?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which perplexity from it to my illustrious client. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and what is your own theory as to what took place?" "I have my revolver," said I. My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with details." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "Frequently." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "'Certainly not.' hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, attention." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not approach us with offers to donate. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful fasten all the windows?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" "And from a noble client?" "'Where to?' and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "He is dead," cried several voices. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "I beg pardon." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police waste of energy." least a most suspicious remark." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start the King without delay." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this points to suicide?" Holmes' room. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our one's self under obligations.' his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." would apply.' coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. pressing in one house as in another. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set if only as a check to my own memory." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not suspect him." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that was lame." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper amused." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "My dear Holmes!" "How often?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that him to be an active member of the medical profession." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we appeared upon the scene." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler the one as in the other." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Whose house is it?" Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, and a shock of very red hair. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the stood on the top of it. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to front of me. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss open." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon your troubles." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Can I be of assistance?" more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he three of the beryls in it, was missing. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "But you can know nothing of this?" without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Perfectly so." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this laugh and put his lips to my ear. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly better in every way that they should make their position a little memory. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would bonnet, and went out." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." not within a twentieth part of the market price." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the and it need not interfere very much with one's other cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "In San Francisco, a year ago." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, have an American origin." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "10th. John Swain cleared. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. my little problems." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his