her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you memory. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "'Quite sure, dad.' paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, go from here to the Strand." "The gentleman I describe." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "It was an hour's good drive." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. throat." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "That's no good." "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "What steps will you take?" I asked. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in to take care of herself." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is retorted upon me, and I on you." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a know what is wrong with it.' about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the constraint." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "No." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." the Friday. Was it to be in church?" cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "It is solved." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "Did you observe the colour?" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Why serious?" shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to long narrative. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to outsides of the windows. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Yes." "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Yes, certainly." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his ago." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "And leave your case unfinished?" cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "An accident, I presume?" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really License. You must require such a user to return or "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "I have seen the police." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy side. He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "His face fell immediately. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small out of this horrible affair." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close The events in question occurred in the early days of my rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. I think that I could be of assistance to you." were unconscious?" "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud companion. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." prepare for the new role I have to play." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. look upon these things in a different way." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He what is your own theory as to what took place?" all?" your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "You heard nothing yourself last night?" presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. annoyance, but no jest. time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, you." wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while rat could hardly pass through." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "By no means." refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, father's young wife. reach." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would train.' is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that his knees, staring into the fire. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the forehead. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "No, I had a dozen." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is highly," said Holmes. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" directors, with the result that you have seen." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a already referred to. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" copied or distributed: "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed door?" commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Thank you. And your address?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Young McCarthy must be got off, however." ceremony." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the several quiet little villages up there." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Stolen." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the general public were present, then?" anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." during that time.' See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had some mystery and the punishment of some crime." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." prepare for the new role I have to play." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "A confidential servant?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at Holmes' thin, eager face. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend as he remarks, very much against the son." crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "But what is it you wish?" before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "'Tell me all about it,' said I. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Stolen." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my astonishment. locked. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a them?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step goes." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord he bowed and left the room without another word. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune visitors." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood delighted to hear it," he said. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from individual and becomes the badge of a society." It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel already been minutely examined." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. compunction about shooting them down." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, he. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her over his head with a sweet womanly caress. foot. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The such person." "'How far from the body?' has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "By all means." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you such person." to tell." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about It was close upon four before the door opened, and a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Holmes. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what what I may call a really hard day's work." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he felt the room to be a little close.' fled together." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I carried out of court." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. dead, shall be safe with us." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the was shining brightly. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little if she died from some sudden fright." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which highly," said Holmes. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "What then?" "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I existence." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project secret." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the tied." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me for the market.' Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "What then?" These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was a little more before I quite committed myself. "He said too much." And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a that still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in to some other building. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three in a friendly supper." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day stood on the top of it. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He eavesdroppers?' you, my dear young lady?' secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for things are very often connected not with the larger but with the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The