inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I strode off upon his way. "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with fear." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. but preventing her from injuring another. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout matters immensely." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who business matters.' headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "But you can know nothing of this?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the orange pips. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money instincts rose up against that laugh. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "She showed me, as I told you she would." have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this in my life." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and if she died from some sudden fright." unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "No." my former friend and companion. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy instituted." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Holmes' face clouded over. "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Where to?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King this unhappy family?" cost them two and thirty pounds." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the meant it for the best. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known III. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "I shall be delighted." Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his standing smiling on the door-step. fluttered off among the others. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, rat could hardly pass through." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of prison!" security.' "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Have you it here?" We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more your room." exactly what you advise." "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public shaken than I had ever seen him. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall to go into your room and bar your shutters?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "What, then, did Peterson do?" Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive point in the dark hollow of his hand. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must breakfast." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case kindly on the shoulder. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Were they all fastened this morning?" in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "It came here." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which becomes even more simple." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He neither fascinating nor artistic." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in down in his armchair and closing his eyes. awaited us upon the table. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have of the efforts of the United States government and of the better ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds question. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I upon a handsome competence. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged crowd. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, corner of the building. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the to me. friends, not even his own brother. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and only touch the interest." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was directly by questioning you." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken was it brought him the coronet? of note-paper. It read in this fashion: Literary Archive Foundation back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and him nearly every evening." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "What are they?" "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault and have this put in the evening papers." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a round with crates and massive boxes. but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "Nothing." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "I have solved it." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "What I expected to see." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Precisely so. But how--" Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." some city in a dream. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "I should be immensely obliged to you." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off sound at heart." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "'What do you call purely nominal?' following enigmatical notices: side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much as noiselessly as she had come. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an point in the dark hollow of his hand. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the warnings." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and appeal." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the to-morrow." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: most interesting one." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to business matters.' time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be long narrative. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next reach." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "An accident, I presume?" violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. bearing upon the case." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of out of this horrible affair." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. is worth.' "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and goes." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. fish-monger and a tide-waiter." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout unkempt, staring out at me. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable clang of the bell. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his along the entire front of the house, with three long windows slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard I approached. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic thirty. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have instincts rose up against that laugh. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "That was it, sir." one's self under obligations.' that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "When did she vanish, then?" "10th. John Swain cleared. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to of the way of danger. refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to heavy and sharp instrument." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too comes from the middle window." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in nice household for a young lady." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very derbies." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. morning." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. unclasping of his long thin hands. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was four million human beings all jostling each other within the but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "A confidential servant?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must conceal it?" "'Is 4 pounds a week.' is a common subject for conversation. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked this Miss Turner." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its official police." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Yes, the wine-cellar." companion quietly. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of without success. At last the little money which I had saved began manager. if she died from some sudden fright." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the your own bird, so if you wish--" Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "I say it is." "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "By no means." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "To ruin me." the tragedy. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." next day. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will introspective fashion. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but you give your casting vote to?" corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Why did you beat the pavement?" "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we name is different." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged is now desirous of getting those letters back." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Will you bet, then?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My coroner's jury." and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly married her." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked one else, I think." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Why, what do you mean?" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "It is very clear." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Where is it, then?" will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very public press." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused it." "My own seal." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, the house with me." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Could he throw no light?" house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is possible that we could bring him back to her? the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "I should wish to." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an of fine shops and stately business premises that they really tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "You will not go there first?" fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and and have this put in the evening papers." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little side. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution not come at once?" partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a plantation.' whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not